News

Court bans Lee's Unwired image

Unwired was banned from using advertising images of Brett Lee following a Federal Court ruling in Melbourne yesterday

Wisden Cricinfo staff
24-Jun-2005
Unwired was banned from using advertising images of Brett Lee following a Federal Court ruling in Melbourne yesterday. Cricket Australia challenged Unwired's use of Lee to promote its wireless products, which are in competition with the board's major sponsor, and lawyers for the rival business gave permanent undertakings that it would stop immediately.
James Sutherland, CA's chief executive officer, issued a strong warning on the use of attributes of contracted players without approval and said they would not hesitate to take further legal action.
"All sporting associations need to be able to protect their major sponsors and this result enables us to give that protection to our exclusive wireless sponsor Hutchison 3G Australia Pty Ltd," said Sutherland. "We will enforce our right to stop deals which cut across the commercial arrangements of our major sponsors."
Unwired used Lee's image on billboards, in mail drops and for print and radio advertising in Sydney. Mr Sutherland stated, "Neither Cricket Australia, Brett Lee, the Nine Network nor Hutchison had approved any of this advertising."