Pro Evolution Soccer 2017 was very probably the best football game to come out last year. Here’s what we said of it when we reviewed it:
“PES 2017 is a fantastic representation of the beautiful game. You could play this game for months on end and still find new ways to beat opponents while being amazed at what you just saw. Those who are brave enough to swim against the FIFA stream will be rewarded with arguably the best football video game to date.”
And it’s true. There are many who still play the game, and its nuances still delight. There are some who are not quite as happy about the game, notably football legend Diego Maradonna. He’s not moaning about his in-game stats as many digitally represented sports stars seem to do. Instead, he’s unhappy that he’s in the game at all.
According to a Facebook post by the icon, he’s having his lawyer slap Konami with a suit over his digital likeness.
“I heard yesterday that the Japanese company Konami uses my image for its game PES 2017. Unfortunately, my lawyer Matias Morla will initiate the corresponding legal actions. I hope this is not another scam,” he said on the social media service.
Said attorney Matias Morla tweeted the following: “#PES2017 used in an illegal way figure and name of #Maradona are going to crackdown on #Konami with everything!”
It’s unclear whether or not it’s a misunderstanding – one of those odd situations where Konami thinks they’ve received permission but haven’t, or whether they’re just using his likeness without the necessary legal framework.
Here’s a sizzle real of Maradonna’s performance and stats in PES 2017. Take a long, hard look – because the star may soon be patched out of the game.
Update: Konami has released a statement.
At this time, there have been news that in Winning Eleven 2017 (international title: PES 2017 Pro Evolution Soccer) there is one player that is being used without permission; however, our company is using [this player] appropriately, with the basis of the license within the contract.
Last Updated: April 3, 2017
Gavin Mannion
April 3, 2017 at 09:42
Maradonna was an amazing footballer but he appears to be becoming mentally unstable.. maybe he forgot that he gave permission through one of his companies?
Else Konami did a bad and it’ll cost them
Avithar
April 3, 2017 at 10:45
to much of the powder maybe??
miaau
April 3, 2017 at 11:08
pretty sure his lawyers and what not would have checked that before suing. I hope.
BakedBagel
April 3, 2017 at 15:11
Gav maybe you can explain, so i have a broader understanding.
How do you sue for likeness?
Lindsey Lohan vs Rockstar for eg.
This seems more concrete as in, there is possibly only one character they where trying to emulate. But does Maradonna have a leg to stand on here? Does he own the bushy curely hair when its on Argentinians?
Geoffrey Tim
April 3, 2017 at 15:37
Well, in this instance, he’s actually in the game as Maradonna. Konami would have to pay to use his likeness, as any advertiser using him in an advert would. If they don’t have the necessary permission (which they claim they do!) he;d have every right to sue – and would likely win.
We’ve seen more bizarre cases of tattoo artists suing because their copyrighted art (on licenced players!) wasn’t licenced to be used in games.
WRT to the Lohan thing, there’s very little she’d be able to do as Rockstar could claim fair use for satire or parody and probably get away with it. If they included a character actually called Lindsay Lohan and who looked like her, they’d have less of a case.
Original Heretic
April 3, 2017 at 15:41
Games and movies.
I remember the hoo-ha with Carlos Condit’s lion tattoo, where the artist wouldn’t allow it to be shown in the game unless they paid him some silly amount. That was sad, really, Condit is probably one of my favourite fighters.
And in movies, The Hangover 2, where the dentist guy gets the Mike Tyson face tattoo, there was a big hoo-ha over that as well.
Ugh, I’d overusing a word again….
HOO-HA!!
BakedBagel
April 3, 2017 at 15:41
Thank you for clearing it up Mr Tim 🙂
I understand now. Konami especially with PES seems pretty clued up on who they can and cant use, gonna be interesting
BakedBagel
April 3, 2017 at 15:43
So for more clarification
Would they be in the clear if they had mis-spelled his name and changed one or two other things? or would there still be a case for likeness?
Geoffrey Tim
April 3, 2017 at 15:44
If they called him Marabella, and it was a generic looking Argentine with fluffy hair – they could probably get away with that. In fact, up until pretty recent PES, that’s largely what the series has done.
BakedBagel
April 3, 2017 at 15:45
lmao Marabella.
This should actually be his name irl
Original Heretic
April 3, 2017 at 10:24
How can you take a guy with SO MUCH pubic hair on his head seriously?!
Lu
April 3, 2017 at 13:03
Well we accepted Matty for ages?
RinceThis
April 3, 2017 at 15:28
haha