Roy Keane Sues Paddy Power Over Image Rights Infringement

Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has specialized in producing controversial adverts over the years, with the company responsible for the UK’s most complained-about advert in 2002, and again in 2010 with its depiction of a blind footballer kicking a cat into a tree. Now the betting giant has done it again, this time with the Republic of Ireland assistant manager, Roy Keane, taking offense at their latest offering which used his image to taunt Scottish football fans ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifier against Ireland last month.
The PR stunt involved Paddy Power parking a lorry outside the Republic of Ireland’s football stadium with a huge 40 foot poster showing Roy Keane looking like William Wallace from the movie Braveheart, and in a reference to Scotland’s rejection of independence in a referendum last year, featured the message:
“You may take our points but at least we have our freedom (ya wee pussies).”
Taking exception to an advert which mocked and potentially caused offense to the entire Scottish nation, the ex-Manchester United captain has now taken the bookmakers to the High Court for infringing his image rights. Both sides of the lawsuit have also hired two of Ireland’s biggest law firms, with A&L Goodbody representing Roy Keane, and Arthur Cox on the side of Paddy Power. Commenting on the legal proceedings, a Paddy Power spokesman explained:
“Roy Keane has taken legal action against us following his face appearing on our Braveheart billboard ahead of the Ireland Scotland game, it’s with the lawyers so obviously we can’t talk about it, but hopefully they won’t take our freedom to have a bit of craic.”
Roy Keane and Paddy Power now look set to meet in court in the near future, and the outcome is unlikely to be as amicable as last month’s soccer game between Ireland and Scotland which finished a 1-1 draw.