Erling Haaland is suing Norwegian Air Shuttle, claiming a World Cup social media post referencing his famous ponytail exploited his likeness without permission.
Hey Ben,
Have you seen Privilege Deals from Qatar Airways ? Are you going to cover it?
I haven’t seen about that but I am going to glom onto your comment to ask Ben if he is going to cover AA bringing back meal prep-ordering for all of economy. He covered that EP can now preorder their complimentary sky snax, but now they’re rolling out preorders for Y on LAX-DFW next week and expect it to be systemwide early next year.
They’re making an awfully big deal out of it considering they had the technology and systems in place for this years ago. What’s olde is gnu again.
They say, 'any press is good press.' This lawsuit provides more free advertising for Norwegian ('hei hei, look, we still exist!') than any traditional campaign ever could. Perhaps, it'll end in a creative settlement, like Haaland getting free lifetime flights (on an airline that’s already cheated bankruptcy once before). Speaking of, does anyone really believe Norse Atlantic Airways isn't just Norwegian Air Shuttle's failed international long-haul operation with fresh paint? Very Alitalia-ITA and Olympic-Aegean of them...
Hahah yes it’s the old Norwegian. We flew them as a family from Chicago to Barcelona return in 2018 (as you do on a Norwegian airline). Was a really good flight in the big seats.
You've got to wonder if they will make it through the low season this winter with fuel prices still high.
Yes, it is petty. Haaland should feel flattered and shut up.
It's cute but I would want to protect my image. Commercial use just seems wrong. Maybe not valuable for a lawsuit, but crosses a line
It’s a shame that he won’t allow a company from his country join in on the spirit of team support and let this one go with a warning that he does not allow it. Although that too is a shame.
A for-profit company used social media as advertisement for itself, thus I tried to profit from Haarland without providing anything in return, I completely agree with him.
Is it fine to do a joke on social media? sure! But companies are using it as a tool, and this is the standard they should be judged on.
Girl article .
I hope a flaming dump truck full of girl food crashes into your dwelling, Alert.
Oh, sorrry, forgot to include a totally superfluous space before the period .
...and so now the post will be back in the media. And who knows, they might even be required to profusely apologize in public, drawing even more attention to it.
Honestly, whatever judgment he gets against them will probably be offset by free media.
[I realize that this is a particularly American attitude, but I don't see there as being a particular downside for Norwegian on this one. Even if they lose, who cares?]
Given that it really is his likeness (who else?), used without his permission, I can understand why his people took action on this. Not to mention that his team (Man City) are in deep doo doo right now and are likely to be relegated to a lower tier for being found guilty of something like 144 charges of malfeasance and cheating. Likely to be tossed out of the Premier League.
Under those circumstances, Haaland needs to be even more cautious than usual about such matters.
I would guess this lawsuit is more about preventing other companies from doing it in the future than going after Norwegian.
Indeed, if it's anything like US trademark law, you need to enforce in order to maintain it. If that's the case, then while this lawsuit seems petty, it could settle in Haaland's favor for a 1 kr penalty, which would leave him strong grounds to sue more egregious abuses in the future.
A bit silly. Many men in Norway have a ponytail.
Haaland filing this lawsuit is extra dumb considering he chopped it all off. IDK how you can call it his 'distinctive signs' when he doesn't even have it right now.
pony tails don’t belong on guys…. or planes
FoulOwl - Exactly . That would be like an airline putting a woman's basketball star's flowing hair being swept back by the wind . A girl article .
Nope, you don't get to be famous for sporting and eye patch and sue uf an ad uses an eye patch. He isn't the first or last to sport a ponytail. A petty lawsuit.
Today I learned that Norwegian Air is still around!
I miss those $300 RT fares from LAX!
Lucky,
You are correct.
You are not a lawyer.
Even your friend in LA is not really a lawyer.
Love dahlink.
From a future lawyer (latest by Dec. 2027)
Another greedy footballer.
Roy Keane was right about his whole family. His dad deserved it.
His dad deserved to have his career ended by a horrific leg-breaking tackle because of a petty squabble? Really? I presume you're a United fan?
For the folks claiming ponytails are in common Norway, thats probably right. But the image photoshopped on the plane is poorly cropped and that is likely Haaland’s forehead. It’s not just the pony “brand,” that’s his actual image. I’d imagine that bolsters his case.
You sure it was his forehead?
The only head I can see is a greedy dickhead.
Regardless of the legal outcome.
He loses. You don't see Messi or Ronaldo this petty. And that's what separates worldclass GOAT and the no class Greediest Of All Time.
Must try to secure some bucks for this because who knows if man city will sell and still then have the money to cover payroll? Just thinking aloud!
Every time you don't defend an identity, trademark or copyright, you potentially erode the ability to assert it in future lawsuits.