Max Verstappen wins his case for the defense of his image
Max Verstappen confirmed having successfully defended his image rights after a Dutch company tried to use his image without his consent.
Over the weekend, Max Verstappen revisited the condemnation of the Dutch start-up Picnic. The Dutch driver had taken legal action against this company, a competitor of one of his official sponsors, the supermarket chain Jumbo, following the release of a video on Facebook parodying a series of humorous commercials from his official sponsor. Picnic, which offers a service delivering food products, used a look-alike of the driver, depicting him in a spot making a delivery to a customer.
Following the launch of compensation claims by the Verstappen clan, the startup Picinic has shown responsiveness by removing the video, hoping to avoid the continuation of legal proceedings. Despite this, the Verstappen clan proceeded with the case, considering it necessary to protect the Max Verstappen brand and the driver’s official sponsors.
The driver thus justified his decision to file a complaint: « They tried to say it was humor but it wasn’t something well thought out. They tried to profit from it, to grow their brand image. But I have my own sponsors who have entered into an agreement with me for the right to use me. So it’s normal to react and prepare for the future. »
Initially, the driver sought compensation of €350,000, an amount seemingly unprecedented for similar cases regarding image rights in the Netherlands. After several months of proceedings, the Amsterdam Court ordered the company to pay compensation, which still amounts to €150,000.
Parody doesn’t pay in the land of Gouda. Beware, some jokes can prove expensive.
From our special correspondent in Barcelona
