DUTCH NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL TEAM
The Dutch national women’s volleyball team has achieved very good results in recent years and has joined the absolute world top. The players have therefore become more interesting for potential sponsors and marketing activities.
On behalf of the players of the Dutch volleyball team, we entered into negotiations with the Dutch volleyball association to negotiate under which conditions the image rights of the players of the Dutch volleyball team may be used for commercial purposes.
WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO EXPLOIT THE IMAGE RIGHTS OF THE DUTCH VOLLEYBALTEAM?
In Dutch case law is has been determined that top athletes have a redeemable popularity and have the right to act against the use of their portraits for promotional or commercial purposes. In addition, it has been established in case law that the use of the name of a top athlete for commercial purposes without permission is also not permitted. For that reason we don’t speak about the protection of portrait rights, but of the protection of image rights.
PROFESSIONALIZATION
At the request of the players of the Dutch national women’s volleyball team, we investigated how we could ensure that the players can optimize their exploitation options. Before these negotiations we had already successfully acted on behalf of the Dutch hockey internationals in their negotiations with the Dutch Hockey Association. For Dutch national women’s volleyball team we have set up a foundation to manage their image rights. The players have transferred their image rights to the Foundation with the aim of optimizing the joint exploitation of their portrait rights.
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE DUTCH VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION
We have accordingly assisted the players with the negotiations about the Dutch Volleyball Association. The objective thereby has always been; to further optimizing the exploitation possibilities of the image rights of the players. The next step in the professionalization of Dutch volleyball sport has now been taken. We are proud that we have been able to make a constructive contribution thereto.
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