F1 vs The Influencers - is anyone actually a winner?

Copyright infringement and IP protection are in the news cycle once again… and this time, it’s F1 vs the influencers.

Noticed your favourite F1 influencer has dropped ‘F1’ from their handle? Well, you’re about to find out why...

F1 has supposedly been contacting content creators about the use of trademarks, selling merchandise, and sharing copyrighted material on these ‘unofficial’ channels. As we’ve said before, brands pay big bucks to use F1 IP, so they can’t let everyone else use it for free…

But here's the thing: creators are giving F1 free publicity, and they've helped the sport grow at an exponential rate. There’s a lot at stake for the influencers – and for F1 itself if it’s not careful. No rightsholder wants to inadvertently alienate their fanbase.

Luke Francis from WTF Talent (formerly WTF1…) thinks F1 needs a change of heart. He suggests creator accreditation (like a media pass) and subscription models for using F1 IP. With accreditation, creators could film on-site and use F1 trademarks. And with subscriptions, F1 could make more money and keep track of who's playing by the rules. It's a win-win for everyone.
 
But unfortunately, for now, it’s looking more like a lose-lose.