Aston Martin Lagonda (AML), famed for manufacturing cars used in 11 James Bond films and for serving clients such as the Prince of Wales and actor Rowan Atkinson, is suing some of its suppliers for copying the company’s distinctive designs.
The famous firm claims that Envisage Group, based in Coventry, unlawfully used wheel and headlight designs, as well as the famous Aston Martin logo, to aid the success of its own bespoke luxury car prototype – the Speedback GT model – which costs approximately £500,000.
AML is also claiming that a promotional video created by its new competitor used its trademarked designs in an attempt to confuse customers.
Envisage Group is the parent company of both Envisage Manufacturing and Visioneering, and all three companies are named in a High Court writ accusing them of using confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence.
AML claims that the companies in question had access to confidential data files containing designs of all its cars (past, present and future) and that the information contained in them has been used without permission, even though the defendants’ employees were required to sign a confidentiality agreement upon entering Aston Martin premises.
AML is demanding damages for infringement of copyright, design rights and trademarks.