Formula 1 is suing Bonanza Gift Shop and Crazy Ely, both of which the corporation alleges have been peddling counterfeit merchandise tied to the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The offense supposedly goes back to 2023 when the offenses occurred.
Alleged F1 Counterfeit Goods Lead to $1M Claim Against Pair of Shops
The corporation has thrown the book at the shops, alleging trademark infringement, unfair competition, and trademark counterfeiting – all serious allegations that could land the businesses in serious trouble.
Formula 1 took a hands-on approach in both instances, sending investigators to scrutinize the shop’s offers and claiming that they were selling 69 fake F1 items, which were seized by the investigators in 2023 from the Crazy Ely property. However, the other shop – Bonanza- was cleared of merch by the time investigators arrived, which the corporation alleges was premeditated.
Bonanza supposedly cleared the bootlegged merchandise in anticipation of the investigators after the other shop warned the location about the impending arrival of investigators. However, the breadth of the operation could have been significant. An estimated 2,300 shops were supposedly sold by the two properties between June 2023 and November 2023.
The lawsuit also names E&B Wholesalers, which is accused in the complaint of having manufactured the counterfeit goods. The potential lawsuit – based on irreparable damages to the F1’s reputation – is now seeking up to $1 million in damages.