Samsung hit by $30m lawsuit from soccer legend Pelé over ‘lookalike’ ad

By Trevor Mogg April 1, 2016

samsung sued by pele soccer star — Agência Brasil/Wiki

More used to parrying legals blows from tech rival Apple than sports stars, Samsung is now facing court action from a Brazilian soccer legend that could cost it $30 million.

Pelé is tackling the Korean electronics giant over its use of a lookalike in an ad (below) for its UHD televisions that ran in the New York Times.

Filed this month in a federal court in Chicago, the complaint alleges that Samsung had been in talks with the 70s soccer ace about promoting its products but ended negotiations in 2013, Reuters reported.

In the New York Times last October, an image of someone who “very closely resembles” Pelé showed up in a Samsung ad promoting its TVs. The ad also used a small image of a soccer player performing a “modified bicycle or scissors kick,” one of the goal-scoring maneuvers for which the player was famous.

Pelé’s lawyers also claim Samsung’s ad could harm the value of the former player’s endorsement rights, and might lead the public into thinking he endorses products made by the Seoul-based tech firm.

Represented by lawyer Frederick Sperling, Pelé, now 75, is seeking $30 million in damages, and is also demanding a ban on future unapproved use of his image by Samsung.

As Reuters notes, Sperling also took on and won a similar case for former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan involving the use of his identity in a Sports Illustrated ad by a now defunct grocery store chain. Jordan won the six-year court battle last year with the jury awarding him $8.9 million. After the chain appealed, he reached an out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed sum. The former pro player announced last December he’d donated most of the money to more than 20 Chicago-based charities.

Editors' Recommendations

Apple’s $30M settlement over worker bag checks OK’d by court

Topics

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Photography

‘Photoshopped’ royal photo causes a stir

The Princess of Wales with her children.

[UPDATE: In a message posted on social media on Monday morning, Princess Kate said that she herself edited the image, and apologized for the fuss that the picture had caused. “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," she wrote, adding, "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused."]

Major press agencies have pulled a photo of the U.K.’s Princess of Wales and her children amid concerns that it has been digitally manipulated.

Photography

Nikon sale: Get up to $700 off select Nikon cameras and lenses

nikon d780 review product 1

Crutchfield has a huge sale on many different Nikon cameras with some of the best camera deals that we’ve seen in a while. With nearly 30 different items in the sale, the best thing that avid photographers can do is take a look for themselves. However, if you want a little insight before you dive in, take a look at what we have to suggest below.

What to shop for in the Nikon sale
Nikon makes some of the best DSLR cameras around with our overall favorite -- the -- available for $2,197 reduced from $2,297. The camera is perfect for both photographers and videographers with a 24.5-megapixel full-frame image sensor. Its rugged magnesium-alloy body is weather-sealed against dust, dirt, and moisture so it’s great for all occasions. The Nikon EXPEED 6 image processor is optimized for low-light performance while maintaining long battery life with an autofocus sensor module with support for 51 focus points. You just need to add a lens to reap the benefits with features like the 273-point phase-detection AF system detecting and tracking subjects throughout the entire frame.

Photography

Best camera deals: Save on DSLR, action cameras, point-and-shoot

Best DSLR cameras for beginners Canon Rebel T7i

While utilizing one of the best camera phones can be nice for capturing everyday happenings on the fly, a more traditional camera offers superior optics, sensor size, and overall image quality. A camera by a brand such as Canon, Sony, or Nikon is a great way to more deeply explore the photography process, or to simply ensure you’re getting higher quality photos of the moments you don’t want to miss. Right now there are a a lot of savings out there if a traditional camera interests you, and there’s big savings to pounce on whether you’re looking for a DSLR camera, an action camera, or a point-and-shoot camera. We’ve rounded up all of the best camera deals out there right now, so read onward for more details.
Best DSLR camera deals

DSLR cameras are bulkier than mirrorless cameras, but they produce high-quality images that will let you capture the most beautiful moments. You'll be able to see directly through the lens with the mirrored optical viewfinder while composing your shot, and you've got your pick among years' worth of lenses, depending on what kind of pictures you want to take. DSLR camera deals are always in demand because they're expensive though, so hurry if you want to pocket the savings from the bargains we've gathered below.