Ferrari embroiled in legal battle over 21-year-old's Facebook page

Ferrari is facing a court battle in Switzerland due to alleged copyright infringement over taking over a Facebook fan site. If the suit is successful, it could cost the company millions and harm its reputation on social media.

 

Sammy Wassem started the Facebook fan page for Ferrari when he was 15 and eventually grew it to over 500,000 followers. In 2009, the company congratulated him on the site's success, but said that "legal issues" forced it to take over the administration, according to Automotive News Europe. Wassem could still use the site, but managers had oversight.

 

Wassem asked Ferrari for financial compensation to keep working on the page but continued creating content on it for the next four years. Eventually, the company terminated his administration rights. In 2013 he and his father Olivier filed the lawsuit against the business alleging it owes payment over 5,500 hours of work and copyright infringement for taking over the page. They are asking for 10 million Swiss francs ($11.3 million).

 

Ferrari is counter-suing them for misusing the company's trademark, including allegedly advertising other merchandise on the page and using it to send invitations to Sammy's 18th birthday.

 

"The issue isn't with Facebook or with our fans but with those who try to use Ferrari's intellectual property to make money out of it," said Stefano Lai, a spokesman for Ferrari to Automotive News Europe.

 

The case highlights the difficult balance companies have to maintain with social media. Even if Ferrari is right, the fallout from lawsuit could be a loss of fans.

I'm sure Ferrari is going to crumble to the ground

Sad. It doesn't really matter who is right, and Ferrari is merely showing they are too dumb to realize it. Perception is reality. A lot of people view the brand as the exotic for old men, so they've got some serious problems to unfuck for the next decade. In other news, Lambo charges ahead with record sales.

I'm sure Ferrari is going to crumble to the ground

 

Yeah... no seriously sue a fan page? Too far?

Who cares about Ferrari? I looked at the F12 yesterday, snooze fest, not much better looking than the FF, if I had to chose I'd take the FF, at least it has 4 seats.

Who cares about Ferrari? I looked at the F12 yesterday, snooze fest, not much better looking than the FF, if I had to chose I'd take the FF, at least it has 4 seats.

 

Yes, the back of the F12 looks so hideous lol

 

I prefer the sexy beast 599 GTO, the FF or the good old classics.

I saw this the other day. Keep up the good work Ferrari!

Lawyers being lawyers

its another one of those instances where both parties probably could have come to an agreement at the very start of all this that both sides would have been happy with, but once the lawyers get involved...

This is as silly as asking me to choose between a Ferrari and a Lamborghini.

 

+1 LP.

 

I agree it will be interesting to see what Ferrari does in the future.

its another one of those instances where both parties probably could have come to an agreement at the very start of all this that both sides would have been happy with, but once the lawyers get involved...

 

It sounds like they did for quite some time. Ferrari took over ownership of the page but allowed the kid to continue on as site admin, then Ferrari decided to terminate his administration rights.