"Dae Jang Geum" Star Fights To Protect Her Image

Unauthorized use of k-celebrity photos has become a big issue during the last few years. The Internet is making it even easier for photos to be used without permission and actresses have found their image on some dubious products or used to promote plastic surgery they never had.

In the last two years several actress and singers have taken a stand to fight this unauthorized use.

Actress Lee Young Ae and her management company recently took an ad to warn those who are illegally using her image. The ad ran in major Korean newspapers this week. It said that after the success of the actress' drama "Dae Jang Geum," a few people have falsely claimed to be her manager or legal representative. Because the drama was so popular throughout Asia, airing in more than 90 countries, more than a hundred people are estimated to have signed contracts granting permission to use her picture. These imposters kept the money.

"Dozens of such cases have been discovered, and advertisers use her to sell anything from kimchi to chocolate", said Lee Jong Mu, a member of the actress' legal team.

In China, her face is seen on a shampoo label but her agency never authorized the use of that image. They caution that those who want to use the actress' image should contact her agency to be sure.

"We ran the ad to make clear that our law firm is a single entity that deals with matters about Lee's portrait rights and to prevent further damage," said Lee Jong Mu.
Legal action is being taken against someone who was granted the right represent her but continued to use it after the terms of that person's agreement expired. In 2011 when a woman named Hwang was entrusted with the sale of Lee's portrait rights by her management agency. Ms. Hwang signed a contract with a kimchi company, but Lee refused to honor it saying that she was never consulted. The company sued Hwang for fraud. They also sued Lee for defamation.
 Earlier this year Lee was involved in another legal battle, this time with the cosmetics brand Mineral Bio. Despite being paid an advance she refused to model for them when the chemical phenoxyethanol was found in the organic cosmetics. The company said it was a safe amount, approved by the Korea Food and Drug Administration but the actress refused to honor the contract.

Do you think agencies should pursue the unauthorized use of a celebrity's photo? Or is such use to be expected with celebrity images? Let us know what you think.