Baseball Players Angry Over Illicit Use of Names
By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter
Professional baseball players are taking a swing at CJ Internet, accusing the computer games publisher for using their names and characters without consent on its popular online baseball game.
``Magu Magu'' has been one of CJ Internet's most popular products, with gamers being intrigued by a game based on real players and teams. The company claims it has the rights to use game characters based on active players and retired stars, citing an agreement over portrait rights with the KBOP, a marketing subsidiary of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).
Last month, CJ Internet announced it had acquired exclusive rights from the KBO over developing content based on the professional baseball league, despite the resistance of other game publishers like Neowiz Games, which operates ``Slugger.''
"Slugger" has been prevented from using the names and logos of the professional franchises from this week, although the KBO has allowed Neowiz to use the names of the players for a little bit longer.
However, the Korea Professional Baseball Players Association (KPBPA), which is the closest to what local baseball players have for a players' union, is demanding that a new sponsorship arrangement with CJ Internet should be reached.
Following a dispute over licensing rights, the KPBA has been proceeding with a formal action to terminate its contract with the KBOP that had allowed the marketing company to exercise the portrait rights of active players.
The KPBA is also unhappy about CJ Internet continuing to use the names of retired players in its "Magu Magu" characters, despite a November ruling by a Seoul court that the company must not do so.
The KPBA dispatched a warning to CJ Internet Thursday, demanding the company to stop using the names of 408 active players and 12 retired players on "Magu Magu."
``Neowiz Games, which operates 'Slugger,' has apologized for the previous infringement of portrait rights, and has been expressing willingness to negotiate. However, CJ Internet has been refusing to communicate with the players' association,'' an official from the KPBA said.
``Should CJ Internet continue to unlawfully use the names of players, we will do our best to ensure that the company is held fully responsible for that. The exclusive contract signed between CJ Internet and KBO shouldn't stand.''
The baseball league and CJ Internet are balking at the claims of the KPBA, saying that the players' association holds no power to exercise licensing rights before the court makes a decision on its dispute with the KBOP.