Pacquiao sues 2 firms for allegedly faking his endorsement

World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao on Thursday filed charges before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against two private companies for using him as endorser of their WOW Magic Sing microphone products without his authorization. Pacquiao filed charges of violation of Section 169 in relation to Section 170 of the Intellectual Property Code against In-A-Jiffy Enterprises, with office address at G/F Richbelt Terraces, 19 Annapolis St., Greenhills, San Juan and G2K Corporation with business address at 81 Gov. Pascual St., Catmon, Malabon. In his complaint affidavit, Pacquiao said that sometime in the second week of February 2006, he discovered that the respondents published an advertisement in newspapers for their WOW Magic Sing microphones wherein his CD album “Para Sa’Yo Ang Laban Na ‘To" would given free for every purchase of the WOW Magic Sing package. The advertisement, Pacquiao said, is bannered by a catch phrase “Para Sa’yo…Libre ‘to!" in large print and prominently displays the cover of his CD album showing his picture playing the guitar. He said that the overall design and effect of the advertisement allegedly intended to convey the impression that he personally endorsed the products of the respondents. Through his lawyers, Pacquiao sent a letter on Feb. 22, 2006 to the respondents demanding to stop from further using his image in such advertisement. Pacquiao’s camp also asked the respondents to recall all such advertising materials and pay him P20 million as compensation for the damage to his goodwill. The respondents claimed that the advertising materials do not suggest that Pacquiao was endorsing or sponsoring the product being sold or that he is formally affiliated or associated with WOW Magic Sing. They also claimed they coordinated with the Star Records, the album’s distributor, before publishing the advertisement. Pacquiao’s lawyers again sent a letter to the respondents on Feb. 28, 2006 demanding f the alleged agreement between the Star Records and the respondents. However, until the filing of the case, the respondents failed to furnish the complainant of the alleged authority given by Star Records as well as the Pacquiao-Camo Records and Loverboy Productions, the producer of Pacquiao’s album. “I never authorized them (respondents) to publicly use my name, image and goodwill for the purpose of promoting their products. My goodwill has been gravely injured and compromised by the illegal and unauthorized acts committed by the respondents," Pacquiao said in his complaint. –GMANews.TV