Guinness denies breaching Botham's rights

Guinness is defending an advertising campaign featuring cricketer Ian Botham, who has reportedly claimed it breaches his image…

Guinness is defending an advertising campaign featuring cricketer Ian Botham, who has reportedly claimed it breaches his image rights.

The newspaper advertisement portrays his match-winning performances during the 1981 Ashes series against Australia.

Fred Trueman, the ex-Yorkshire and England fast bowler, is quoted as saying of the player: "He couldn't bowl a hoop downhill".

Botham's displays with both the bat and ball at Headingley, including a half-century, 149 not out and six first-innings wickets, helped England to one of the greatest victories of all-time and a series win.

READ MORE

The player's solicitor, Mr Nayesh Dasai, told the Daily Telegraphthe advert suggested Botham was endorsing Guinness when he was not and had no contract with them.

Ms Liz Young, a spokeswoman for Guinness, which is owned by the worldwide drinks firm Diageo, said: "We can confirm we are in correspondence with Ian Botham but to date, no action has been taken by the party.

"The advertising campaign consisted of six different adverts, one featuring the image of Botham. The images in all the adverts were cleared for copyright use with the libraries they came from".

The ads appeared between May 31st and July 4th in a number of national newspapers.