Edson Arantes do Nascimento also known as Pele was the former Brazilian soccer legend. Pele is suing Samsung the electronic giant for illegally using his look alike-image.
Fred Sperling, the soccer legend's lawyer filed a lawsuit claiming that the electronic giant allegedly used Pele look alike image for a television advertisement. While the advertisement did not name the 75 years old soccer legend. The elderly black man who featured in the advertisement looks very much like Pele.
The lawsuit says the advertisement pose to confuse consumers and will definitely hurt Pele's value of endorsement rights. Pele seeks $30million in damages. Pele has endorsement deals with other big giant companies, including Procter and Gamble, Subway, Emirates and Volkswagen.
The lawsuit also says the advertisement also appeared after Samsung broke off negotiations to use Pele’s image in 2013. The lawsuit also state that the South Korean electronic giant pulled out of negotiations at the last minute “and never obtained the right to use Pele's identity in any manner or circumstances.
Pele is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time.
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