DRIVE M7 ha hecho una declaración en su Facebook respecto a su patrocinio con Aspar Team. Si queréis leerlo al completo os lo dejaremos al final de esta entrada.
Por lo que hemos podido entender, en Junio de 2014 les llegó una notificación, tanto al Aspar Team como al Drive M7, de una marca que se quejaba del uso de "DRIVE" en Europa. Echando una ojeada el calendario podemos ver que el Campeonato pasa unas 10-11 veces por Europa, así que esa marca interpuso un aviso legal para que la marca de la bebida energética DriveM7 dejara de anunciarse en las motos del Aspar Team. Según ellos, "DRIVE" infringía su derecho de marcas.
No sabemos mucho del porqué pero parece ser que esta es la causa del adiós del patrocinio. No concuerda en nada con las declaraciones que hizo Jorge Martínez "Aspar" el pasado jueves, así que no podemos saber cuál es el motivo real de la ruptura.
Si hay más información por una de las dos partes os lo haremos saber. Esperemos que el Aspar Team consiga un nuevo sponsor en las próximas carreras y no peligre la evolución de la moto y los pilotos.
Aquí tenéis la declaración oficial de Drive M7:
"PRESS STATEMENT
DRIVE M7 SDN BHD wishes to clarify the controversy
as portrayed in the Internet and blogs with regard to its previous sponsorship
of the ASPAR TEAM by the brand trademark “DRIVE M7 ENERGY DRINK”.
DRIVE M7 SDN BHD had a sponsorship agreement to
sponsor the ASPAR TEAM in the MOTOGP World Championship in 2014 in
consideration of ASPAR TEAM carrying the livery of the “DRIVE M7 ENERGY DRINK” trademark.
The agreement was for the season 2014 with separate renewal options for the
2015 and 2016 seasons. The sponsorship was for 18 races of which 11 were for
races in Europe and European Union territories for the year 2014.
In June 2014 in the midst of the 2014 season a
legal notice to cease and desist was served on DRIVE M7 SDN BHD and ASPAR TEAM
by a firm claiming trademark stating that continued use of the “DRIVE” mark in
Europe and European Union would be trademark infringement and threatening legal
action in the European Union, full details whereof are known to ASPAR TEAM.
ASPAR TEAM assured DRIVE M7 SDN BHD that their
lawyers would attend to this issue. On this assurance, DRIVE M7 SDN BHD
continued and completed the sponsorship for the 2014 season. A sum of about
EURO 1,800,000.00 was paid to ASPAR TEAM in satisfaction of the sponsorship for
the 2014 season.
Further there was no notification of the official
withdrawal of the legal notice of June 2014, advised by ASPAR TEAM to DRIVE M7
SDN BHD. DRIVE M7 SDN BHD has been a responsible supporter of sports and racing
sports and places great emphasis on respecting trademarks and intellectual
property. In the premises inter alia there was no sponsorship arrangements
concluded in so far as DRIVE M7 SDN BHD is concerned for the 2015 season. There
were negotiations for a fresh sponsorship for 2015 season wherein reciprocal
obligations were agreed including inter alia appointing Messrs. Jorge Martinez
Aspar and Facundo G. De La Cuadra from the ASPAR TEAM as the exclusive
distributor for the energy drinks in Europe and European Union based on various
assurances from them and ASPAR TEAM. These reciprocal obligations are not
fulfilled todate and hence no sponsorship are finalised or can be taken to be
finalised in so far as DRIVE M7 SDN BHD is concerned for 2015 season.
ASPAR TEAM has recently initiated notice of legal
action and DRIVE M7 SDN BHD has responded to the said notice. As there may be
impending legal proceeding, DRIVE M7 SDN BHD does not wish to add further,
suffice to say that DRIVE M7 SDN BHD will do the necessary to protect their
interest.
DRIVE M7 SDN BHD trusts for the present this
presents a fair and necessary response to the controversy that has been raised
in the Internet blogs and press statement. We regret that ASPAR TEAM has issued
press releases without giving DRIVE M7 SDN BHD an opportunity to add their
comments to such releases.
DRIVE M7 SDN BHD refutes any suggestions that they
pulled out the sponsorship at the last minutes. We wish ASPAR TEAM the best in
their endeavours and the good relationship we had enjoyed.
Press statement released on 29th March 2015
BY DRIVE M7 SDN BHD"
(Fuente: Facebook Drive M7)
(Fuente: Facebook Drive M7)
