Adidas objects to Nike using Tendulkars images for promotion

Sports Apparel brands Adidas and Nike are involved in a tussle over batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.

New Delhi, May 25 : Sports Apparel brands Adidas and Nike are involved in a tussle over batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.

Adidas has petitioned the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC) on Friday seeking to restrain the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to stop Nike from using Tendulkar's images for promotions when he is not playing for India.

Adidas has also asked the MRTPC to direct Tendulkar to furnish an undertaking that he personally endorsed Adidas, although Nike sponsored Indian cricket team's on-field uniform.

During the proceedings, Adidas argued that BCCI granted Nike only sponsorship and licensing rights and to carry trademarks of the batsman only while playing for the country.

The company's counsel, Shailendra K Kapoor, argued that personal endorsement rights were never a subject to this contract (between BCCI and Nike).

Nike has no right to use Sachin Tendulkar's name for endorsements, he argued.

In its petition, Adidas had made BCCI, Nike, Tendulkar and his manager Iconix respondents.

The counsel contended that Tendulkar and Iconix were only performa respondents and were made party to the case to state before the commission that he has exclusive personal endorsement rights only with Adidas.

However, declining any immediate relief to Adidas, MRTPC Chairman OP Dwivedi and member MMK Sardana said: "When you have waited for six months, then wait for one more month".

The commission has listed the matter for hearing in July.

BCCI has a five-year contract with its rival Nike for the team uniform. Nike had won the sponsorship rights for the Indian cricket team in 2005 with a bid of Rs 199.66 crore, beating Reebok whose bid stood at Rs 119.48 crore and Adidas Rs 127.50 crore. (ANI with inputs)

ANI