MARADONA SUES SINA, THE9, CLAIMING COMPENSATION

AsiaInfo Services
06-14-2011
Maradona Sues SINA, The9, Claiming Compensation

SHANGHAI, Jun 14, 2011 (SinoCast Daily Business Beat via COMTEX) -- Soccer star Diego Armando Maradona has sued SINA Corporation (Nasdaq: SINA) and The9 Limited (Nasdaq: NCTY) for using his image and name in their operated online game Winning Goal without authorization and claimed compensation of CNY 20 million.

Earlier, The9 revealed that Maradona agreed to be the image ambassador of the game and had been paid USD 250,000.

On January 24, 2011, the official Web site of Winning Goal posted a media report, saying The9 had inked a representing agreement with Maradona, who was invited by the company's board chairman Zhu Jun, also the investor of Shanghai Shenhua FC.

By far, neither of the involved companies have made reply to the lawsuit. A top executive of SINA in charge of public relations tells reporters that the company has no knowledge about the case and is discommodious to make comments.

The9 points out in a statement that its top management is shocked to hear the lawsuit and is communicating with the broker of Maradona, since the company itself may be also the victim of a fraud by persons close to the soccer star.

Source: www.thebeijingnews.com (June 14, 2011)

KEYWORD: SHANGHAI INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Internet & Online Services & Media SUBJECT CODE: Internet & Online Services
Portal Software
SinoCast China Business Daily news
Maradona
online game
Winning Goal
compensation
lawsuit
soccer star

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