Creators whose online identities revolve around Formula 1 racing have been changing their usernames lately, and seem to be reluctant to say why. But the reason may be that F1 itself has asked them to, as it is rumoured to have been sending cease and desist orders to certain creators with monetised accounts using its branding.
Among the abrupt rebrands was Paddock Project (formerly F1r the Girls), an F1 fan podcast. Paddock did not mention receiving a cease and desist letter when instagram.com/reel/C-nGorBxB1q/”>Announcing the changewriting instead that the new name “reflects where we are and where we are going.”
F1 influencer Mikaela Kostaras, who also recently changed her name (from “shelovesf1” to “shelovesvrooms”) appeared to hint that she has been served with a cease and desist order. In a video asking viewers to “imagine” being told they can't give away the tickets they bought, something she recently madeResponding to a comment on the video, she said, “There’s a reason everyone is rebranding rn and it’s not just for fun.”
F1 commentator Toni Cowan-Brown He said in a video that he has been “hearing rumours” about cease and desist letters for “at least the last six months”. He added that Formula 1 is targeting those “who are using F1 in their brand and profiting off of it”, as well as creators who purport to be associated in some way with the organisation.
Formula 1 did not immediately respond to The edgeRequest for comments from.
Cowan-Brown compared this approach to that of the NBA, which does not pursue those who post NBA content online, even when that content includes actual game footage. League commissioner Adam Silver technology/adam-silver-against-suing-nba-highlights-youtube.aspx”>He once said that “for the most part, the highlight is marketing.”
Still, Formula 1 has been especially aggressive in protecting its brand in the past, including when it sent a “stack of legal letters” to star driver Lewis Hamilton demanding that he stop posting F1 clips on social media. Liberty Media later acquired F1 and relaxed guidelines which prohibited drivers and teams from posting clips from the paddock.
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