Red Bull Jettisons Space Sky Dive Due to Lawsuit
Red Bull is putting a hold on plans to sponsor a sky diver’s jump from the stratosphere because of a lawsuit that claims the energy drink company stole the idea.
Parachutist Felix Baumgartner had planned to break the sound barrier and a world record with his jump out of a balloon at an altitude of 120,000 feet, according to the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) and the Wired blog Autopia.
Promoter Daniel Hogan claims in the California suit that he had the idea first and he pitched it to Red Bull in 2004. Hogan says he developed detailed technology and marketing proposals, but the company abruptly withdrew from the project in October 2005.
Red Bull maintains it acted appropriately in dealings with Hogan, but says it is stopping the sky dive project until the case is resolved.
