Suit settled over car used in 'Back to the Future' films

[webfact]

Suit settled over car used in 'Back to the Future' films
By DAVID PORTER

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — In time for "Back to the Future" day, the widow of the automaker whose famous car traveled through time in the 1985 movie and its sequels has settled a lawsuit over the use of his name.

Last year, the widow of automaker John DeLorean sued a Texas company she said has been illegally using the DeLorean name for years. The DMC-12, known simply as "the DeLorean," was driven by Michael J. Fox in the movie and has since gained a cult following.

Oct. 21, 2015 is the date Fox's Marty McFly travels to in "Back to the Future II" and finds, among other innovations, flying skateboards, automated dog-walkers and self-drying jackets.

Sally DeLorean, who lives in New Jersey with her daughter, sued the Texas-based DeLorean Motor Company, claiming it had been illegally using the DeLorean name to sell hats, pens, notebooks, key chains and other items, and illegally licensed the name and images to other companies including Nike, Urban Outfitters and Apple.

The company has never been formally affiliated with the one DeLorean started.

A preliminary settlement was reached in June but hit a speed bump over the summer. Last month, the parties agreed to a settlement that will pay Sally DeLorean an undisclosed sum while allowing the company to retain rights to use the DeLorean Motor Company name, trademarks and logo.

The estate will retain rights to John DeLorean's name, aspects of his personal life and depictions of his likeness that aren't public property or purchased from legitimate rights holders.

R. Scott Thompson, an attorney representing Sally DeLorean and the DeLorean estate, declined to comment on the specifics of the settlement but said his client "is satisfied with the outcome and is especially pleased that she and her daughter will be in a position to protect all aspects of John's legacy going forward."

James Espey, a vice president with the DeLorean Motor Company, said Tuesday night that the company "is happy to have this behind us so there's no question what our rights are."

"This allows us to get back to the business of doing business," Espey added.

John DeLorean began his career at General Motors before forming his own company in the 1970s. Only about 9,000 DeLorean cars were produced before the company went bankrupt in the early 1980s, but the car's sleek, angular look and gull-wing doors helped land it a role in the "Back to the Future" films.

DeLorean died in New Jersey in 2005 at age 80. His former estate in the rolling hills about 40 miles west of New York City was converted into a golf course by Donald Trump in 2004.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-10-21

[lovelomsak]

It was to bad Delorean couldnot afford to keep his car production going and had to resort to cocaine dealing to help pay his bills. I really like his car a friend of mine owned one,if he would have kept going I would have bought one. I am happy the family are happy with the settlement

[TPI]

You don't realise how small the car is until you sit in the drivers seat! The all stainless steel body made cleaning a breeze!

[NeverSure]

I think the car could have succeeded if it had been built in the US using an American V8 drivetrain rather than using a small Renault engine and tranny. In the performance area, the car simply didn't live up to its appearance.

Renault doesn't have a good reputation in the US and sports cars tend to be powerful. The MGB had a good reputation and a small cult following in the US, but it had very small sales and success compared to cars like the Corvette due to a small 4 banger engine. The Corvette lives on and gains power over time while many low powered sports cars have bitten the dust. Mazda built a low powered two seat convertible that also didn't catch on. Was it a Miata? See - it's forgotten.

DeLorean was a brilliant engineer for General Motors and he should have known better.

[TheCruncher]

I think the car could have succeeded if it had been built in the US using an American V8 drivetrain rather than using a small Renault engine and tranny. In the performance area, the car simply didn't live up to its appearance.

Renault doesn't have a good reputation in the US and sports cars tend to be powerful. The MGB had a good reputation and a small cult following in the US, but it had very small sales and success compared to cars like the Corvette due to a small 4 banger engine. The Corvette lives on and gains power over time while many low powered sports cars have bitten the dust. Mazda built a low powered two seat convertible that also didn't catch on. Was it a Miata? See - it's forgotten.

DeLorean was a brilliant engineer for General Motors and he should have known better.

The Miata forgotten? Only in the country that thinks the universe depends on them

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_MX-5

Production numbers and details

In 2000, the Guinness Book of World Records declared the MX-5 the best-selling two-seat sports car in history, with total production of 531,890 units.^[65] The 250,000th MX-5 rolled out of the factory on November 9, 1992; the 500,000th, on February 8, 1999; the 750,000th, in March 2004; the 800,000th in January 2007, and 900,000th in February 2011. ^[66] As of July 2014, total production of MX-5 reached 940,000 units.^[2]

Mazda also reapplied to Guinness World Records to have the record updated to 900,000 units.^[1]

In contrast, I think, the Corvette sales figures are equal to the number of models they produced so far.

[NeverSure]

The Miata forgotten? Only in the country that thinks the universe depends on them

Mazda also reapplied to Guinness World Records to have the record updated to 900,000 units.^[1]

In contrast, I think, the Corvette sales figures are equal to the number of models they produced so far.

I don't get that part. Corvette has sold 1.6 million cars, so I don't know what the comparison is. LINK

I haven't seen a Miata in a long time.

DeLorean built an under-powered, rear engine, fancy looking VW Bug equivalent with a tiny POS Renault engine and it didn't sell. That's my point.

Cheers.

[waxon]

...

In contrast, I think, the Corvette sales figures are equal to the number of models they produced so far.

I don't think that Corvette has 1.6M models.

[TheCruncher]

The Miata forgotten? Only in the country that thinks the universe depends on them

Mazda also reapplied to Guinness World Records to have the record updated to 900,000 units.^[1]

In contrast, I think, the Corvette sales figures are equal to the number of models they produced so far.

I don't get that part. Corvette has sold 1.6 million cars, so I don't know what the comparison is. LINK

I haven't seen a Miata in a long time.

DeLorean built an under-powered, rear engine, fancy looking VW Bug equivalent with a tiny POS Renault engine and it didn't sell. That's my point.

Cheers.

No, your point was as obvious as usual, that it only can be good if it's made in the US.

I made clear that there is no need to ridicule manufacturers from outside the US, specifically not the Miata which is the most successful roadster of all times.

Cheers

[crankshaft]

I owned a 74 MGB for almost 2 years.....it was in the shop at least once a month. It was not a reliable car at all...and way, way under powered. There was a reason the car had two seats...one for the driver and one for the mechanic...