Maradona sues games maker
By Ni Yinbin |
June 3, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona is suing The9 Limited, a Chinese online games company, for using his image without permission.
Maradona said the Shanghai-based company had never officially contacted him before using a cartoon portrait to promote its "Winning Goal" game last year.
Maradona, 50, said The9 had sent him an letter of apology but, in a statement issued through Xinhua news agency, he said it lacked sincerity.
"I do not accept the apology from The9 Limited, and I will continue to protect my legitimate interests through legal procedures," Maradona said.
When The9 Limited launched its soccer-themed game last June, it said it was in cooperation with Maradona.
Zhu Jun, chairman of The9's board and also owner of the Shanghai Shenhua Football Club, said on his microblog last year that Maradona had agreed to sign a celebrity endorsement for the game.
However, in his statement Maradona claimed that he had never been in contact with nor had he cooperated with the company and the use of his image in "Winning Goal" was an act of infringement.
Zhu's cellphone was powered off yesterday and he was unable to be reached.
In The9's letter to the football legend, the company said it had been cheated by a football agent, Lu Weiping, who had led the company to believe Maradona had signed the endorsement contract.
According to The9, a sum of US$250,000 had been given to Lu as Maradona's fee for the endorsement.
The9 said police had been investigating the case.
Maradona said the Shanghai-based company had never officially contacted him before using a cartoon portrait to promote its "Winning Goal" game last year.
Maradona, 50, said The9 had sent him an letter of apology but, in a statement issued through Xinhua news agency, he said it lacked sincerity.
"I do not accept the apology from The9 Limited, and I will continue to protect my legitimate interests through legal procedures," Maradona said.
When The9 Limited launched its soccer-themed game last June, it said it was in cooperation with Maradona.
Zhu Jun, chairman of The9's board and also owner of the Shanghai Shenhua Football Club, said on his microblog last year that Maradona had agreed to sign a celebrity endorsement for the game.
However, in his statement Maradona claimed that he had never been in contact with nor had he cooperated with the company and the use of his image in "Winning Goal" was an act of infringement.
Zhu's cellphone was powered off yesterday and he was unable to be reached.
In The9's letter to the football legend, the company said it had been cheated by a football agent, Lu Weiping, who had led the company to believe Maradona had signed the endorsement contract.
According to The9, a sum of US$250,000 had been given to Lu as Maradona's fee for the endorsement.
The9 said police had been investigating the case.
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