Support appeal to save the replica community
Donation protected
Support lifelong Jaguar enthusiasts, Karl Magnusson (68) and his wife Ann-Christine (68) in their fight to appeal a court decision making Jaguar C-type replicas illegal. If the case is not appealed it will have devastating consequences both for the pensioner couple and for the global replica car community.
Jaguar Land Rover have sued Karl and Ann-Christine, for copyright infringement after building a C-type replica in their home garage in Gothenburg Sweden, despite decades of global public approval of the replica industry from Jaguar themselves. A staggeringly uneven battle between a global corporation and a retired pensioner couple, who basically have put everything on the line.
After a shocking verdict by the Stockholm District Court in December, Karl and Ann-Christine are found guilty of copyright infringement and their privately built C-type replica is deemed illegal and subject to destruction. Furthermore, they are required to pay Jaguar Land Rover’s legal fees of £450 000 and damages, which in effect will drive the pensioners out of their home.
As for the replica community, this unique verdict giving a 70-year old car shape copyright protection will likely have far reaching consequences. In essence making all C-type replicas unlawful to display, sell or use on public roads or in other public circumstances, under threat of penalties and/or destruction. And while this is a verdict by a Swedish court, because of EU directives the judgement may be invoked in other EU countries, potentially threatening the entire European replica industry. JLR has already started to use the Swedish verdict in warning letters sent to UK replica builders. And under the current understanding of relevant agreements, this verdict can be invoked in the UK even after Brexit. In addition, other car makers can use this precedent and claim copyright of their historic models, threatening 10s of 1,000s of Ferrari, Fort GT40, AC Cobra, Porsche, Aston Martin and other replicas.
Everyone around Karl and Ann-Christine with insight into the case are left baffled by the court’s decision, as well as shocked over how JLR is treating two senior lifelong supporters of the Jaguar brand and community. The couple remain determined to continue the fight as they have a very strong appeal and are hopeful that the appeals court will overthrow the initial verdict. But they need support!
Aside from taking years away from their retirement, the legal fees are driving the pensioner couple out of their home. Please support us in raising funds for them to be able to continue the fight, for the good of the replica industry and so that they may be able to keep their home.
This GoFundMe have been setup by Elizabeth Magnusson, daughter of Karl and Ann-Christine Magnusson and Official Spokesperson. If more information is needed, do not hesitate to contact us and we will make it available to you!
Added 2021-02-12: If the Magnussons win the case in the Appeals Court, no longer needing the raised funds to cover legal fees or damages, we will attempt to reach out to all donors offering to refund their donations. Any remaining funds after this effort will be donated to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO. https://covid19responsefund.org/en/
---- Full background ----
Swedish pensioner and honorary member of the Swedish Jaguar Club, Karl Magnusson was invited by senior management to the Jaguar Land Rover Classic UK HQ in 2016 to give a presentation about his C-type project. “Our C-type replica was going to be the cherry on top of our small private collection of restored Jags,” says Magnusson. That collection has had to be sold to fund lawyer costs.
Despite two years of correspondence regarding future project collaboration, meetings and nothing but praise from Jaguar Classic management, Mr. and Mrs. Magnusson were sued in 2018 by Jaguar Land Rover for copyright infringement.
After a surprising verdict by the Stockholm District Court in December, Karl and Ann-Christine were found guilty of copyright infringement and their privately-built C-type replica deemed illegal and subject to destruction - a project inspired by passion that took nine years of research and labour to complete.
In addition, the Magnussons are required to pay Jaguar Land Rover’s legal costs of £450,000. Furthermore, JLR can also claim damages.
Over the years Jaguar have supported the replica industry in various ways. No less than three Jaguar CEOs have supplied close to 2,000 drawings to replica builders as well as given awards to replica builders. Three other Jaguar senior managers and one Director, previous and present, have privately built and raced C-type replicas themselves.
Since 2015, 25 historic Jaguar Land Rover Classic Challenge races have been held, and 5 more are planned this year, publicly inviting replicas. On YouTube you can enjoy official Jaguar Land Rover marketing films with proud displays of replicas.
You can even pay to take the Jaguar Land Rover “Classic Drive” experience, which includes driving C-type and D-type replicas.
JLR Classic Works are currently launching their own “continuation” replica E-types and C-types with the help of replica producers in the UK, who are the ones with the skill and knowledge to produce the parts. In other words, at the same time as JLR are calling replicas illegal and pursuing this in the courts, they financially support and cooperate with replica producers.
And it does not stop here: just google “JLR Replica” and the first hit takes you to an official Jaguar Land Rover dealership, selling US kit-car C-type replicas on their website.
Unless the ruling is overturned in the Court of appeals, it will not only open the door for Jaguar Land Rover to continue to sue replica builders and passionate Jag enthusiasts but sets a precedent for all other car manufacturers, threatening replica builders and owners on a global scale.
To help the Magnusson’s appeal and to stop this from affecting other replica builders and owners, we appreciate donations, to cover further crippling legal costs. Any amount, however small is greatly appreciated!
The Swedish court files are public, translated versions can be accessed using the following links:
Court ruling
Appeal
Supplement to the appeal
Annexes
Jaguar Land Rover have sued Karl and Ann-Christine, for copyright infringement after building a C-type replica in their home garage in Gothenburg Sweden, despite decades of global public approval of the replica industry from Jaguar themselves. A staggeringly uneven battle between a global corporation and a retired pensioner couple, who basically have put everything on the line.
After a shocking verdict by the Stockholm District Court in December, Karl and Ann-Christine are found guilty of copyright infringement and their privately built C-type replica is deemed illegal and subject to destruction. Furthermore, they are required to pay Jaguar Land Rover’s legal fees of £450 000 and damages, which in effect will drive the pensioners out of their home.
As for the replica community, this unique verdict giving a 70-year old car shape copyright protection will likely have far reaching consequences. In essence making all C-type replicas unlawful to display, sell or use on public roads or in other public circumstances, under threat of penalties and/or destruction. And while this is a verdict by a Swedish court, because of EU directives the judgement may be invoked in other EU countries, potentially threatening the entire European replica industry. JLR has already started to use the Swedish verdict in warning letters sent to UK replica builders. And under the current understanding of relevant agreements, this verdict can be invoked in the UK even after Brexit. In addition, other car makers can use this precedent and claim copyright of their historic models, threatening 10s of 1,000s of Ferrari, Fort GT40, AC Cobra, Porsche, Aston Martin and other replicas.
Everyone around Karl and Ann-Christine with insight into the case are left baffled by the court’s decision, as well as shocked over how JLR is treating two senior lifelong supporters of the Jaguar brand and community. The couple remain determined to continue the fight as they have a very strong appeal and are hopeful that the appeals court will overthrow the initial verdict. But they need support!
Aside from taking years away from their retirement, the legal fees are driving the pensioner couple out of their home. Please support us in raising funds for them to be able to continue the fight, for the good of the replica industry and so that they may be able to keep their home.
This GoFundMe have been setup by Elizabeth Magnusson, daughter of Karl and Ann-Christine Magnusson and Official Spokesperson. If more information is needed, do not hesitate to contact us and we will make it available to you!
Added 2021-02-12: If the Magnussons win the case in the Appeals Court, no longer needing the raised funds to cover legal fees or damages, we will attempt to reach out to all donors offering to refund their donations. Any remaining funds after this effort will be donated to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO. https://covid19responsefund.org/en/
---- Full background ----
Swedish pensioner and honorary member of the Swedish Jaguar Club, Karl Magnusson was invited by senior management to the Jaguar Land Rover Classic UK HQ in 2016 to give a presentation about his C-type project. “Our C-type replica was going to be the cherry on top of our small private collection of restored Jags,” says Magnusson. That collection has had to be sold to fund lawyer costs.
Despite two years of correspondence regarding future project collaboration, meetings and nothing but praise from Jaguar Classic management, Mr. and Mrs. Magnusson were sued in 2018 by Jaguar Land Rover for copyright infringement.
After a surprising verdict by the Stockholm District Court in December, Karl and Ann-Christine were found guilty of copyright infringement and their privately-built C-type replica deemed illegal and subject to destruction - a project inspired by passion that took nine years of research and labour to complete.
In addition, the Magnussons are required to pay Jaguar Land Rover’s legal costs of £450,000. Furthermore, JLR can also claim damages.
Over the years Jaguar have supported the replica industry in various ways. No less than three Jaguar CEOs have supplied close to 2,000 drawings to replica builders as well as given awards to replica builders. Three other Jaguar senior managers and one Director, previous and present, have privately built and raced C-type replicas themselves.
Since 2015, 25 historic Jaguar Land Rover Classic Challenge races have been held, and 5 more are planned this year, publicly inviting replicas. On YouTube you can enjoy official Jaguar Land Rover marketing films with proud displays of replicas.
You can even pay to take the Jaguar Land Rover “Classic Drive” experience, which includes driving C-type and D-type replicas.
JLR Classic Works are currently launching their own “continuation” replica E-types and C-types with the help of replica producers in the UK, who are the ones with the skill and knowledge to produce the parts. In other words, at the same time as JLR are calling replicas illegal and pursuing this in the courts, they financially support and cooperate with replica producers.
And it does not stop here: just google “JLR Replica” and the first hit takes you to an official Jaguar Land Rover dealership, selling US kit-car C-type replicas on their website.
Unless the ruling is overturned in the Court of appeals, it will not only open the door for Jaguar Land Rover to continue to sue replica builders and passionate Jag enthusiasts but sets a precedent for all other car manufacturers, threatening replica builders and owners on a global scale.
To help the Magnusson’s appeal and to stop this from affecting other replica builders and owners, we appreciate donations, to cover further crippling legal costs. Any amount, however small is greatly appreciated!
The Swedish court files are public, translated versions can be accessed using the following links:
Court ruling
Appeal
Supplement to the appeal
Annexes
Organizer
Elizabeth Magnusson
Organizer
Bandhagen