Erling Haaland is going on the offensive, but this time away from the pitch. The Manchester City striker has launched legal action against Norwegian Air Shuttle, accusing the airline of using a particularly recognizable element of his image without permission: his famous blond hairstyle.
The case concerns an advertising campaign by the Norwegian airline. Rather than directly showing Erling Haaland’s face, Norwegian Air Shuttle allegedly used a representation of his hairstyle, distinctive enough to immediately evoke the Norwegian goalscorer. The visual was accompanied by the slogan: “We’ve never looked more Norwegian.”
Haaland’s Hairstyle at the Heart of the Dispute
According to TV2 Sport, Haaland’s representatives believe this amounts to unauthorized use of the player’s image. His lawyer argues that not showing his face directly does not necessarily avoid the issue, as the hairstyle featured in the advertisement would clearly refer to the footballer.
Haaland has therefore decided to take the matter to court in order to challenge the commercial use of his likeness without his consent.
It is a rather unusual case that raises an interesting question: can a company commercially exploit a star’s instantly recognizable appearance without showing their face or mentioning their name?
