Friday, August 04, 2006

TGIF

Zinedine Zidane Head-Butted By Trademark?

"Zhao Xiaokai, general manager of a sport-related company, paid 2,000 yuan ($250) to register the trademark -- a silhouette of Zidane head-butting Italy defender Marco Materazzi's chest -- for shoes, hats and beer products, the Beijing Daily said."

Now Zhao is inviting bids of one million yuan for the rights to use the image of Zidane's head-butt. Some beer companies have expressed interest.

""This recognition level of this trademark is very high. Using a silhouette to render this image avoids violating the soccer star's image rights," Zhao said."

IPKat points here to possible infringements of:

  • rights of personality;
  • privacy;
  • unfair competition;
  • passing off.
Read Reuters' article here.

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