Football's world governing body FIFA has stepped in to prevent Nico Rosberg from wearing a helmet featuring a picture of the World Cup trophy for this weekend's German Grand Prix due to copyright grievances.
Rosberg announced on Wednesday he would be wearing a modified helmet for his home race at Hockenheim this weekend to celebrate Germany's FIFA World Cup final triumph over Argentina on Sunday, a German flag with the World Cup trophy on top with four stars to commemorate each of Die Mannschaft's victories.
this will be my Hockenheim World Cup special edition helmet with the FIFA trophy. How do you like it??? @DFB_Team pic.twitter.com/ZKE4gh5EpA
- Nico Rosberg (@nico_rosberg) July 15, 2014
But it has emerged Rosberg's new lid design was in violation of FIFA image rights preventing anyone who does not have the right to from showing the trophy.
FIFA's guidelines on the use of official World Cup branding state: "Any unauthorised use of the official marks not only undermines the integrity of the Fifa world cup and its marketing programme, but also puts the interests of the worldwide football community at stake."
Rosberg's manager George Nolte confirmed the helmet will be re-designed, ditching the World Cup trophy image but retaining the four stars to mark Germany's triumphs in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014.
there will be an update on @nico_rosberg ´s Germany helmet design today.will be without #WorldCuptrophy. BUT with 4 stars on it. @DFB_Team
- Georg Nolte (@GeorgNolte) July 17, 2014
Rosberg later tweeted out a picture of the new design.
a shame,i would have loved to carry the trophy as a tribute to the guys.but of course I respect the legal situation pic.twitter.com/esCboJkL4c
- Nico Rosberg (@nico_rosberg) July 17, 2014