WORLDWIDE PRESS RELEASE Friday 24th March 2023
Swedish C-type replica builder won in court against Jaguar Land Rover
Karl Magnusson (70), a lifelong Jaguar enthusiast who built a replica of the Jaguar C-type, has won an extensive copyright dispute against Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in the Svea Court of Appeal. The judgment states that JLR has given consent to Magnusson's replica manufacturing and that they will not have to scrap the car nor pay one million in damages.
JLR has never before raised any objections to replica manufacturing of their historic models, and instead have accepted and supported the independent, world-wide replica industry, growing since the 1970s. Mr Magnusson and his wife, being avid classic car enthusiasts their entire life, were well aware of this relationship during the nine years they spent researching and building their C-type replica.
Magnusson was even invited to JLR where he reported in detail his planned replica C-type project and was encouraged by JLR to continue. Suddenly and without warning, JLR’s attitude changed, and they sued Magnusson for his hobby business in the villa garage. JLR demanded one million in damages and that the then almost-completed car be destroyed.
JLR won the first round in the Stockholm District Court in 2020, but now lost in the higher Svea Court of Appeal in a very important judgment for the classic car community. The court says in its judgment that JLR has no right to claim copyright infringement in the already-built replica. The court finds that for several decades, there has been a global replica market that Jaguar has accepted and supported and that this constitutes a general consent.
- It is both incomprehensible and distasteful that JLR, as a large international automotive group, would threaten the lives of two private individuals in a peripheral market with a legal process. This has created tremendous economic and mental pressure for more than five years, says Mr. Magnusson.
Mr. Magnusson does not want to speculate why JLR chose to sue him and his wife in Sweden, considering that there are thousands of C-type replicas in the world. Perhaps JLR thought it would be an easy win that would set a precedent worldwide.
- But worse is that Jaguar, with its heritage and position, chooses to put its entire trust at stake and make itself infinitely unpopular in the classical car community, which they themselves benefit from. It is surprising, to say the least, says Mr. Magnusson.
The court states that JLR's general consent can be withdrawn. This is a prejudicial warning bell, not only for replica Jaguar enthusiasts but for all replica owners of other brands worldwide.
For further information, contact:
Karl Magnusson, creareform@gmail.com, +46 73 399 44 37
Swedish C-type replica builder won in court against Jaguar Land Rover
Karl Magnusson (70), a lifelong Jaguar enthusiast who built a replica of the Jaguar C-type, has won an extensive copyright dispute against Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in the Svea Court of Appeal. The judgment states that JLR has given consent to Magnusson's replica manufacturing and that they will not have to scrap the car nor pay one million in damages.
JLR has never before raised any objections to replica manufacturing of their historic models, and instead have accepted and supported the independent, world-wide replica industry, growing since the 1970s. Mr Magnusson and his wife, being avid classic car enthusiasts their entire life, were well aware of this relationship during the nine years they spent researching and building their C-type replica.
Magnusson was even invited to JLR where he reported in detail his planned replica C-type project and was encouraged by JLR to continue. Suddenly and without warning, JLR’s attitude changed, and they sued Magnusson for his hobby business in the villa garage. JLR demanded one million in damages and that the then almost-completed car be destroyed.
JLR won the first round in the Stockholm District Court in 2020, but now lost in the higher Svea Court of Appeal in a very important judgment for the classic car community. The court says in its judgment that JLR has no right to claim copyright infringement in the already-built replica. The court finds that for several decades, there has been a global replica market that Jaguar has accepted and supported and that this constitutes a general consent.
- It is both incomprehensible and distasteful that JLR, as a large international automotive group, would threaten the lives of two private individuals in a peripheral market with a legal process. This has created tremendous economic and mental pressure for more than five years, says Mr. Magnusson.
Mr. Magnusson does not want to speculate why JLR chose to sue him and his wife in Sweden, considering that there are thousands of C-type replicas in the world. Perhaps JLR thought it would be an easy win that would set a precedent worldwide.
- But worse is that Jaguar, with its heritage and position, chooses to put its entire trust at stake and make itself infinitely unpopular in the classical car community, which they themselves benefit from. It is surprising, to say the least, says Mr. Magnusson.
The court states that JLR's general consent can be withdrawn. This is a prejudicial warning bell, not only for replica Jaguar enthusiasts but for all replica owners of other brands worldwide.
For further information, contact:
Karl Magnusson, creareform@gmail.com, +46 73 399 44 37
