Hong Kong entertainment legend Andy Lau is suing a mainland Chinese company for using his photo without his permission to sell water purifiers.
According to HK01, Lau formally sued the water purifier manufacturer Zebrafish, a Zhejiang-based company, in October. The website reports that the case was officially heard at China’s first “cyber court” in Hangzhou on Monday.
The cyber court was set up in 2017 to handle internet-related crimes and civil cases, including trade disputes, copyright lawsuits, and product liability claims.
According to the indictment, Lau — a Cantopop superstar also known for starring roles in films like Infernal Affairs and House of Flying Daggers — said he discovered that Zebrafish had used his portrait and signature on a number of online ads to sell their water purifiers and other related products. His face was also put on the product’s packaging and, at one point, plastered on a billboard in Beijing.
The indictment goes on to say that Lau did not give Zebrafish permission to use his image, name, or signature for its packaging or advertising.
It adds that as a 30-year veteran of the entertainment industry, Lau’s name and reputation carry great commercial value, and that the use of his image would mislead consumers into thinking he was an official spokesperson for the manufacturer.
In addition to compensation of up to RMB2million (about US$300,000), Lau also wants Zebrafish to fork over RMB10,000 (about US$1,500) to cover legal expenses, and to issue a public apology.
Zebrafish, meanwhile, maintains they legally obtained the right to use the pictures involved, that their use did not infringe upon Lau’s rights, and that the compensation demanded by the entertainer was too high.
The case is ongoing.
