Remember that French woman named Zoe Renault who decided to sue Renault for using her name for an upcoming model? Well the matter has finally reached the courts and Renault can chalk one up in the victory column. They are now free to use the name Zoe for the upcoming electric car.
Zoe Renault (the human) wrote to Nissan CEO Charles Goshn about her concerns, saying “For my clients, it would be intolerable to hear ‘the Zoe has broken down’ or indeed ‘he or she killed herself in a Zoe’.”
Zoe Renault’s lawyer also added in court:
There’s a line between living things and inanimate objects, and that line is defined by the first name. We’re telling Renault one very simple thing: First names are for humans. Can you imagine what little Zoes would have to endure on the playground, and even worse, when they get a little bit older and someone comes up to them in a bar and says, ‘Can I see your airbags?’ or ‘Can I shine your bumper?’
The judge rightfully dismissed the case. I mean, really, I’m still shocked that any lawyer decided to take this case in the first place. No one ‘owns’ the name Zoe and therefore it can be used by anyone for any purpose.
Besides, Renault isn’t the first automaker to use a human name for one of its vehicles. Remember the GMC Jimmy? To my knowledge, people named Jimmy had no problem with GMC using their names, probably because they’re not psychos that are only out for money.
[Reuters]