Porsche Vs. Singer: A Legal Showdown That Shifts Gears For Restomods?

What Is The Nature Of Porsche’s Dispute?

The German brand argues that Singer’s models are completely rebuilt cars from the ground up and hence, cannot use Porsche branding or logos to profit from. According to Porsche The DLS and DLS Turbos are unique cars with a distinct body style and engines sourced from Williams Formula One, which means that they cannot be identified as Porsches. Singer has carved out its niche.

They’ve moved beyond simply calling their creations "911s." Instead, each car is meticulously crafted and presented as a "Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer," Porsche demanded that Singer remove all Porsche branding from the DLS and DLS Turbo. In the past, Porsche has made a similar request when Singer was promoting their off-road 911 model which was called the Singer All-Terrain Competition Study (ACS), where Singer complied.

Singer defied Porsche’s requests to remove Porsche branding from their high-priced DLS and DLS Turbo models. These cars, featuring the iconic Porsche badge, appeared at prestigious events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

This defiance might have triggered Porsche to file a lawsuit in February 2024, seeking compensation and halting production of both models. Porsche argued these weren’t one-off customizations but mass-produced vehicles (with 75 pre-sold DLS units). However, the lawsuit was surprisingly dismissed just two months later. It seems like the Porsche brand went on the offensive to protect its intellectual property (IP) from future infractions.

What Does This Mean For Other Porsche Restomodders/Aftermarket Brands?

What does this mean for the myriad of Porsche-centric resto modding companies, like RWB or Emory who have been crafting Porsche-based cars for a long time now? Going forward these brands might have to tiptoe around stricter guidelines when creating their high-end creations, but hopefully, it will not stifle their creativity. These brands and their beautiful creations have created a new generation of Porsche enthusiasts, who have gained an appreciation for the brand.

If Porsche chooses to tangle with more of these companies in the future, they might risk alienating a faction of their fans. While stricter guidelines are a possibility, open communication between Porsche and these established firms could lead to a mutually beneficial outcome.

Porsche could potentially offer licensing agreements or establish clear parameters for modifications, ensuring quality and brand protection while allowing these companies to continue their creative expression. Ultimately, a collaborative approach could foster a vibrant resto-modding scene that celebrates Porsche’s heritage while attracting a new demographic of fans to the German marque.

There Have Been Several IP Court Battles In The Past

While the details of the legal case and subsequent squashing are sealed, the case in itself is not unprecedented in the auto world:

• Ferrari is one of the most litigation-happy brands ever, whose lawyers do not hesitate to go after anyone who they perceive as a threat. Everyone remembers the infamous ’Purrari’ incident when they sent a Cease and Desist letter to Canadian musician Deadmau5 for his Nyan cat-themed wrap of his 458 Spyder. They were in the news yet again recently when they announced a reward to anyone offering information on those who were producing counterfeit Ferrari products.

• Jaguar Land Rover is suing Jiangling Motor in China, claiming the Landwind X7 SUV illegally copies their Range Rover Evoque design. This case hinges on copyright and unfair competition. Despite skepticism about China’s legal system, similar cases and evolving laws suggest Jaguar Land Rover might have a fighting chance.