Barrichello wins legal case against web community

By Phil Huff
October 3 2006

The Honda Racing F1 driver Rubens Barrichello has won a legal action in Brazil against Orkut, the popular Google run web community.

Barrichello, who isn't a member of the Orkut community, took exception to the false profiles on the site, as well as the improper use of his name and image. Thanks to a decision by the civil court in Sao Paulo, Google will now have to take off all the profiles listed.

Orkut now have seven days to comply, or face fines of £270 a day. Rubens has already won an action against the company, back in July of this year, but it has not been fulfilled. As such, Barrichello's lawyers have also asked for an additional £210,000 in damages for pain and suffering.

Rubens doesn't have anything against communities made for and run by fans, comments a report on the drivers own website, as long as they don't try to pass off as being official, and remain true and accurate.

Looks like RealHondaF1.com is safe for now, then...