Cars with the same name

[Johnny 89]

I've wondered why cars from different manufacturers can have the same names. Are there not copyright issues or do these circumstances avoid the copyright issues (age, domestic market etc.)?

I'm think of:

Mitsubishi/Pontiac GTO (Not the model name with Ferrari)
Maserati/VW Bora

There's certainly others that I can think of now. Can you add any?

[Johnny 89]

Some good suggestions, however I can understand Roadster as it describes the vehicle, much like GTI.

The ones from the same manufacturer shouldn't create any issues :-)

[Johnny 89]

911 is interesting as weren't Porsche forced to change from the planned 901 due to copyright issues with Peugeot? Or perhaps that's nonsense

[Johnny 89]

Some people are getting the idea!! Triumph/SEAT Toledo was the other one I couldn't think of.

Other people have got it very wrong! Eg. Cars from the same manufacturer with different names!!!

Others have mentioned model designations which is different.

RE. The BMWs were they called 323i/420d etc.?

[Johnny 89]

Hamish Finn said:

Good example, and exactly what they OP was referring to, unlike most of the posts on this thread.

At the time the Jensen and Interceptor, etc, etc. were registered in Australia, and in most markets in the world. But Australia has a "prior use" policy, and as CV8 had not been in use since 1966 (and probably not actually used in Australia by Jensen at all), then Holden could use CV8 quite legally.

Some good info. there and actually gives a reason as to why the name could be used. Do we have any more reasons for the crossovers?