Lawyer doubts Lotus name dispute to end soon

A specialist lawyer has played down hopes the Lotus naming dispute might be settled this week.

A short time ago on Monday afternoon, the initial hearings kicked off inside London’s High Court.

A lawyer for Group Lotus will summarise the Proton-owned marque’s application for a summary judgement against Team Lotus’ right to use the ’Lotus’ name for its team.

"Many (people are) confused about (the) case today," Team Lotus boss Tony Fernandes wrote on Twitter. "It’s not about (the) Team Lotus name (and) who owns it, which is in November."

He explained that Monday’s events centre only on Group Lotus’ argument that it had the power to revoke the Lotus Racing naming license, with Fernandes and his lawyers insisting that termination was "unlawful".

Intellectual property lawyer Mark Daniels, of Browne Jacobson, said the judge at Monday’s hearing will be "reluctant" to grant Group Lotus’ push to end the case now, "especially when so much is at stake commercially".

"This is an opportunity for the judge to make some comments to try to provoke a settlement," Daniels told the BBC.