Ecclestone set for Grand Prix battle

MOTOR racing magnate Bernie Ecclestone, who recently threatened to axe British Grand Prix, is now locked in a bitter fight with Formula One's governing body for the rights to the race name.

Ecclestone's attempts to patent the rights to British Grand Prix have brought him into dispute with Motor Sports Association (MSA), the body that is responsible for governing motorsport in Britain.

The MSA applied to the British patent office for the trademark in December 2001. However, this application is now being opposed by Ecclestone's Formula One Licensing (FOL), which has made its own application for the trademark. Both claims are being considered.

If either application is successfully registered, the owner would have trademark law on its side against anyone hosting a British Grand Prix motor race without its authorisation.

This dispute comes at a tough time for the sport. A High Court ruling last week saw Ecclestone lose control of a key Formula One operating company and four of his top teams are threatening to set up their own race series in 2008.

Ecclestone recently agreed a five-year deal with the race's promoter, the British Racing Drivers' Club, which will pay $13.5m (£7.1m) a year for the British Grand Prix to ensure the Silverstone event stays in the Formula One calendar. Ecclestone had threatened to remove the race from the Northamptonshire venue, bemoaning the poor facilities.

The FOL application covers sporting and cultural activities and includes computer games, brochures and books.

The trademark claim from the MSA is restricted to the organisation of motor racing events for four-wheeled vehicles.

The MSA has a strong historical involvement with the British Grand Prix. The company was set up in 1978 by the Royal Automobile Club.

The club had organised the race since its inception in, 24 years before the beginning of the Formula One world championship to which Ecclestone owns the commercial rights.

The MSA is a not-for-profit organisation with no share capital and 30 members acting as guarantors. As the governing body of British motorsport, the MSA oversees the running of the British Grand Prix.

Max Mosley, president of the FIA, the international governing body of motorsport, says the British Grand Prix title 'is owned by the MSA'.