BMW GINA, Arden Range Rover, Audi A5 Cabrio, & Nissan 240SX - 06/10/2008

Designer in battle against BMW for “Gina”

COVERING SYSTEM CONTESTED: CASE FILED AGAINST THE GERMAN CARMAKERS AT THE ROME PUBLIC PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE.

Source:  Corriere della Sera 01/03/2009 - Michele Manno  

Rome
It is certainly a strange case that has ended up on the desk of the Public Prosecutor in Rome.
You could almost say that the two contestants are the present situation and the future.
The present situation is represented by designer Giuseppe Bianco; the future by the well-known BMW car manufacturers.
Why future? Because BMW recently won an award in Paris for the most beautiful “Concept Car of 2008”.
The car has an unusual name: ”Gina”. And we know for a fact that, like Gina Lollobrigida and all other women, Gina loves elegant clothes. So much so that she has been called the “Light visionary model”.
She is a car that we will never actually see on the road, like all “concept  cars” which, by definition, propose new ideas destined to take shape on the roads of everyday life some time in the near future. The idea is in the composition of the car body, consisting principally of an elasticized fabric stretched over the frame which can be modified at the touch of a button, depending on the driver’s tastes. So it is a fabric to suit all occasions, from a simple meal in a pizzeria to a Gala evening in Monte Carlo. It is a kind of travelling haute couture wardrobe.
But this is where the present, with its laws and regulations, impacts on “Gina’s” destiny. Fashion designer Giuseppe Bianco has initiated a case against BMW, alleging counterfeit and the violation of the industrial property law, claiming that it was he who, in 2005,  invented the exclusive procedure by which it is possible to apply any type of covering (leather, fabric and technical materials) to the body of a car or motorbike, thus making “the coverings themselves impermeable and resistant to atmospheric agents”. Before turning to the justice system, in this case public prosecutor Marcello Monteleone, Giuseppe Bianco’s lawyers warned BMW not to continue any activities connected with the use of this process. But the car was still presented. 
Whatever the truth of the matter – and legal battles over patents are usually complex – perhaps one day we will hear the verdict. It is up to the judiciary to decide who is right and who is wrong: but for once the case does not concern murder, disputes or violence, but the future of a car; and the prosecution and defence have to make a decision about “Gina”.

Auto/ Designer accuses BMW: they copied me. The Public Prosecutor’s office in Rome is investigating
28-02-2009 11:52 
"The 'Gina' concept car covering was patent protected "
Rome, 28 Feb. (Apcom) - The 'Gina' BMW is a prize-winning concept car, but the idea of using a fabric covering for the bodywork is now said to have been copied from an Italian. This is the subject of the lawsuit initiated by fashion designer Giuseppe Bianco, owner of a number of young fashion labels, and filed with the Rome Public Prosecutor a few days ago. Public Prosecutor Marcello Monteleone is believed to be assessing the case presented by lawyer Carlo Cirillo, which contains allegations of counterfeiting under articles 473 and 474 of the penal code and under the provisions of the so-called ‘industrial property code’, as defined in the law of 10 February 2005, number 30, article 127. 
Specifically, according to the lawsuit, Bianco designed an exclusive procedure in 2005 by which any covering material, from leather to fabric to more technical materials, could be applied to the external body of cars and other motor vehicles, "making the covering impermeable and resistant to atmospheric agents". After registration of the patent, exhibition at the 2006 Bologna Motor show, and coverage on the Tg5 Italian TV channel, Bianco was confident, happy in the knowledge that he had invented something innovative. Then, in the middle of 2008 he discovered that BMW had presented a concept car with a fabric body: the Gina, acronym for 'Geometry and functions in 'n' adaptions'. So Bianco felt that there was nothing for it but to assert his rights. 
The battle between this small inventor from Italy and the German colossus began last August, when lawyer Carlo Cirillo informed the legal offices of BMW that his client was the "owner of the rights following the filing of a formal application to register the patent for a fabric covering for motor vehicles" and warning the German company to "cease any activity in conflict with this". After further contacts between lawyer Carlo Cirillo and the legal consultants from BMW’s patents office, and despite all the documentation presented in support of Bianco’s case, the Gina was exhibited at the museum in Munich and from 11 to 15 February of last year at the Salon Concept Car Hotel National des Invalides Plauce Vebaun, in Paris. 
As reported in the newspapers, at that event in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, the Gina won the award of 'Grand prix du plus beau concept car de l'annèe 2008'. But Bianco was not willing to let matters lie. He made a video with his accusations and posted it on Youtube. The process involved in this work on the car and the application of the materials, as shown on the carbodydesign website, source BMW press office, is exactly the same as the one he designed. In his lawsuit, the designer also refers to a visit by a BMW manager to his stand at the Motorshow. Lawyers Carlo Cirillo and Pamela Baglivo, who presented his case with the collaboration of lawyer Micol Cupo Pagano, explain: "Our client hopes that this will throw light on the matter.” 
Lawyer Carlo Cirillo adds: "It is clear that if the judicial authorities recognize this as a violation of Mr. Bianco’s patent rights, we are looking at damage on a huge scale, taking into consideration the enormous publicity potential of the internet coverage used in handling this issue. So I hope that this will bring protection to the offended party, the small businessman, against a multinational company with great economic resources.”

YUK!!!!!!!   She did not say HONDAI...It's HYUNDAI!!!!!   She  didnt say the car company name right!!

Alex! Work on your stance and incorporate your arms/hands during your presentations please...

BMW GINA...Cool! :)

stop yelling please

Ladies and Gents! Proud to announce my discovery. Finaly found reason for last 4 days of heat in tri-state area... It's all Alex's fault... so hot...

That gina concept is incredible and is exactly the kind of outside the box thinking that is keeping the european and japanese cars ahead of the americans, which is a shame.  As for that Nissan, I'm a big fan of Nissan's but man that thing is ugly.  Surely they won't build that.  Also, Alex you look great in that outfit.

See through is always a nice addition 

That BMW is INSANE! Looks solid then it folds all kinds of ways and shit, wow!...where's DD at??

I dont care what she looks like--she still doesn't care about cars and that pisses the s--t out of me..does anyone care?

She looks soo hot...OMG...Hot women talking about cars..Does life get any better...Can I meet her next time I'm in NYC?

  Can't stop thinking about the Hindenburg disaster in that new but idiotic Bangle idea BMW GINA light vision... plus cloth sags the longer you use it.
  

* THATS A WHOLE LOTTA VAGINA!!! :D

Yes, it's good to question what we do & why once in a while {every 100 years or so is about time I guess}

What Im tired of is the way people think of their vehicles as a fashion statement. Yes it is an expression of personality to some degree. But at the end of the day, it is a utensil, an appliance, it is a tool to get from A->B.

I would love to see the skin in -50 Celcius shatter like an icicle. This might be appropriate for the Smart crowd whos vehicles dont exceed the legal speed limit anyway. I mean instead of trading in your car when you get bored with it, you just change its clothes.

But so far, I see more drawbacks as stated above, ie safety & what about vandalism???

I mean some Ahole just comes along & cuts your car right up!!!

I think the A5 would look way better as a 5 door. But then I guess thats what the A7 will be?

Alex rocks  ditch Derek

That GINA concept just blew my mind. Go BMW!

yo stig, the chasis could take the hit for you , the body is not all the metal in the car, remember the gina has the engine in the front and obviously the engine cant be mounted on fabric and what is to keep bmw from putting a metal floor under the engine bay so that a shock could be absorbed, 

as for the range rover, for gods sake WHY?? if you want a sports car get a sports car, i you want a sports car you can take the family around in get a M5(its a better sprts car anyways), if you wanna look like a idiot and have every person in the world who even slightly cares about the environment, or even people like me who like to keep hippies happy so they dont chuck paint on my car, then go ahead and buy it, but why i ask why.

@ Zach: Please let the Fierenzo die with dignity.

oh and excuse my misspellings. I'm at work. typing fast.

I like the fact that people are rethinking the car alltogether.  I don't think fabric skin cars are coming anytime soon but some of the best innovations come indirectly. 
Oh and a 500+ hp SUV? Come on now. I love the Land Rover Brand but overpowere suv's are going in the wrong direction to me.  Even if you can afford the fuel it just says "I know the economy and the environment are hurting but I could care less."  Just like people watering their Marijuana Plants in a drought! Just kidding that is a neccessity.

Is it me, or is she yelling?  The GINA looks awesome, I want one.  It would be so awesome to be able to hack into the skin system and make my car look however I want....within reason (yes, fierenzo I'm talking to you).

Also what about the body in rain or snow. That is the worst idea ever thought of in the history of ideas ever.

Chris Bangle sucks at life. Im sure people would survive car accidents with fabric bodies. How does he keep his job?

Holy crap...that BMW Gina's reshapable fabric concept is STRAIGHT out of the "memoy cloth" scene in "Batman Begins

Are you sure the BMW 'Gina is pronounced "Gee-nah?"  Take another look at the hood, should it be pronounced "Jie-nah?"