The story is old but it is experiencing new developments. On Monday, seven former football players, including former French international Jimmy Briand (Rennes) and former PSG striker Fabrice Pancrate, believe, like others before them, that the use of their faces on the famous stickers published by Panini France is illegal.
To develop its business and justify this exploitation of the image of footballers, the French subsidiary of this Italian group is nevertheless relying on documents signed by the players themselves, in the appendix to each professional contract, under the aegis of their union, the UNFP (National Union of Professional Footballers). In the complaint filed Monday in Paris, and relayed by RMC Sports and AFP, the lawyers of these players, Elie Dottelonde and Laure Diu-Lambrechts, cite motives of “fraud” but also of “active corruption of a private agent”. The athletes and their advisers consider in fact that the UNFP deceived them by making them sign for the benefit of a commercial subsidiary, and ultimately of the Panini company, a transfer of their image rights “non-negotiated, absolute, automatic and without compensation”.
Beyond the law, the players’ lawyers also intend to denounce an old system set up between the union and the Panini company, whose two leaders are known to be very close. At the UNFP, Philippe Piat, 82, who also participates in the vote for the future boss of the Football League (…)
(…) Click here to see more
JCDecaux wins major UK contract for London bus shelters
Mykonos, Santorini… will you find stays for these destinations next summer?
Michel Barnier: should we expect measures from Matignon to support your consumption?
NRJ Mobile: a difficult start to the school year for subscribers, between bugs and poor customer service
Boeing avoids new crisis by substantially increasing wages
