Soccer Legend Pelé has sued Samsung for $30 million in damages over the use of a lookalike in their newspaper advert. In the said advert, the half cropped face of a man who very much looks like the Brazilian born soccer legend is placed alongside a Samsung SUHD TV; the TV shows an image of a footballer performing the a modified bicycle kick or scissors-kick, perfected and famously used by Pelé” in the advertisement. These major features of the advert are what Pelé’s image rights company, Pelé IP Ownership LLC, points to as evidence backing their allegation that Samsung used an image of the Brazilian legend without his consent. Added to that is the fact that Pelé had been in talks with Samsung over using his image for an advert similar to the one his look like was used in. Obviously, the deal did not go through and Samsung settle for a look alike, perhaps, hoping to draw the same sentiments from consumers as would a real Pelé image would.
According to our news source, the representative of the Plaintiff, stated that the soccer legend relies on endorsements for much of his income, and the ad will hurt the value of his endorsement rights and confuse consumers into believing he endorses Samsung products. “The goal is to obtain fair compensation for the unauthorized use of Pele’s identity, and to prevent future unauthorized uses,” Pelé’s lawyer, Frederick Sperling, said in a phone interview.
Samsung is to issue a statement over this matter, but we do expect to hear from them anytime soon. Moreover, this not new for Samsung as they have being in and out of out for a while now, due to their case against Apple over patent trespass.
It will be interesting to see how this goes, the soccer legend may have a case or not; that’s left for the jury to decide do. What do you think? share in the comment box
This is crazy, 30 million dollars? just for a picture that we are not sure if it is him? interesting
Exactly my thought. How was he sure he was the one in the picture?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Na Wa for Samsung. Well, money must be made by Pele
For me Samsung didn’t default in any way after all Pele was just exaggerating
lol,sure dey would. the money is der
Hahaha! The amount is very scary… Will they be able to pay him this huge amount of money?
lol,sure dey would. the money is der
Lookalike you said? Are you the only one that looks the way you look?
Lol…. They do not need his permission
It’s a free world. Let them br
As long as it isn’t his actual person
Lol how are you sure it will work
pele should go and sit down