By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Emelianenko Fedor, a Russian mixed martial arts fighter, has lost a compensation suit against a Korean apiculture agency over publicity rights.
The Seoul Central District Court Wednesday ruled against Fedor and his manager Vadim Finklestein who filed the suit against the agency and the Korea Sambo Federation, claiming that a commercial organized by the former damaged his image.
In 2007, Fedor participated in a mixed martial arts competition in Seoul and appeared in a cable television commercial. The ad, starting with a victorious scene involving Fedor in a wrestling ring, is followed by footage of a bee landing on a yellow rape flower. Then Fedor returns, drinks a bottle of the honey and says, ``I like Seonyu Honey,'' in Korean.
Fedor claimed the agency damaged his image as a powerful fighter, demanding 1.5 billion won in compensation.
The court said, ``He cooperated in the commercial shooting, saying the promotional copy in Korean himself, and it is unreasonable for him to belatedly make an issue of the commercial and demand compensation.''
It said that Fedor and his 26 staff members received financial sponsorship from the agency and the federation at the time of the competition, including flights and accommodation. ``His appearance in the commercial was his due responsibility for the sponsors' financial support,'' the court added.