• Sweden edition

Dairy pays Greek man for Turkish yoghurt pic

Published: 14 Jul 10 08:08 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/27776/20100714/

Lindahls dairy in Jönköping in Sweden has paid almost two million kronor ($270,000) in compensation to Minas Karatzoglis, a Greek man whose picture is used on a Turkish yoghurt product.

"I can confirm that we have reached a settlement and all parties are satisfied. The figure is under, but in the region of, two million kronor," said Tomas Axelsson at Lindahls to The Local on Wednesday.

77-year-old Karatzoglis, whose picture adorns the Turkish yoghurt product, had argued that the company did not have permission to use his image and originally sued for 50 million kronor ($6.9 million).

The dairy and the man have now reached agreement over the use of his image.

"We have always maintained that we had the rights to the image, but now we have settled the issue and plan to continue to use it on the product," Akelsson said.

Lindahls had obtained the image from a photo agency.

Minas Karatzoglis, who lives in Greece, was made aware of the use of his picture on the popular Swedish product when an acquaintance living in Stockholm recognized his bearded friend.

In his writ he underlined that he is not Turkish, he is Greek, and lives in Greece, and the use of his picture is thus misleading both for those who know him and for buyers of the product.

Tomas Axelsson claimed that the firm has not benefited from the publicity regarding the use of the image.

"We have neither gained nor lost. We are happy that we have reached an agreement," he said.

Peter Vinthagen Simpson
news@thelocal.se
+46 8 656 6518

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It! Digg This  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

09:38 July 14, 2010 by Nemesis
It is about time they paid him.

Use of his picture for advertising without his express permission was a terrible thing to do.
11:15 July 14, 2010 by mikmak
Some background facts that were left out: the dairy bought the rights to the image from an image agency. The fuss seems to be about the fact that the nationalities of the product and the guy didn't match up. Anywho the dairy is countersuing the image agency for the settlement amount.
11:18 July 14, 2010 by Dazzler
He is now one of the rich elite in Greece!
12:12 July 14, 2010 by Keith #5083
It appears that Turkish yoghurt is even healthy for Greeks......!?!. Bet that'll take some swallowing in Greece :)
12:13 July 14, 2010 by The Local
Mikmak - thanks for pointing that out. We have now added that information to the story.

James Savage

Managing Editor
12:27 July 14, 2010 by Mb 65
His picture would not inspire me to buy the Yoghurt. Compensate him for what no one here knew who the hell he was anyway.
12:36 July 14, 2010 by Z-man
Suing about offense over mistaken nationality was his only option, and it was his right to do so.

As it stands with copywrite law, in Sweden at least, any photographer may take a picture of almost anyone (even unawares) in public (normal, uncontroversial public activity), and will automatically own the full distibution rights to the picture, as long as no name is attached to the picture itself (making it a picture of an anonymous person). The photographer may then sell or lease the use of the picture to agencies or directly to publications. It can even end up being resold and passed around, with rights transfered to other parties.

As such, the Greek man would have no claims/rights over his own image, but he could sue for damage to his reputation. It's quite understandable to me, as just about everywhere in the world, people hate being mistaken for being a citizen of a neighboring country--they tend to define themselves by how they are separate and different from their closest neighbors.
13:11 July 14, 2010 by mike_gr_13
Papou gera partous ta lefta
14:22 July 14, 2010 by glamelixir
The use of image is in all his right! dispite the image being bought from an image bank, it makes absolutly no difference for him.

I actually find the amount quite low considering the prices they pay worldwide to people being the face of a brand. It is not advertising, it is branding for those who expressed it wrong.

Branding links an image to a product and it is much more powerful for a brand than advertising as it can totally drop the sales if changed because people can fail to recognize the product.

And it definetly is not the point if he was or not famous or if he was or not rich from the beginning. We all have the rights to our image, period.
22:34 July 14, 2010 by bob3000
#9 "We all have the rights to our image, period." glamelixir

Only your opinion - not the law in Sweden.

It would be interesting to find out, if he originally had a deal with the Photo Agency for the pic. I'm sure the court papers will be worth a read.
00:46 July 15, 2010 by DAVID T
Well the Guy must have been more pissed about the fact that they used the picture for Turkish yoghurt - The Greeks really hate the Turks - look at Cyprus
01:22 July 15, 2010 by Authentica
@ DAVID T:

Thank you for enlighting us, we are most obliged.
03:08 July 15, 2010 by Z-man
Oops, I meant "copyright" and not copywrite. Blame it on lack of sleep :-p
06:57 July 15, 2010 by Da Goat
He would have been better off asking for a crown for every tub sold

ie a cut of the profits!
07:03 July 15, 2010 by villjobba
12:13 July 14, 2010 by The Local

Mikmak - thanks for pointing that out. We have now added that information to the story.

James Savage

Managing Editor

I wonder if you had that version checked out first or you just added it as claimed without confirmation!
01:30 July 16, 2010 by Miss May
Papoo, you can now plug up some holes!!! This is what my Greek grandfather called paying off any bills he had! Cheers!
16:45 July 16, 2010 by glamelixir
@ bob3000

It really doesn't protect the right to you image?

Please, I would like to know more about that, would you mind telling me?.

It sounds so stone age for a country like Sweden to not protect people. I am in shock.

And it was not my opinion, it is law in almost any country.
17:15 July 16, 2010 by tadchem
There is a saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Similarly, "Spend a penny, save a pound." A waiver and release form, plus a few kronor up front could have saved the dairy a bundle.
21:12 July 16, 2010 by Norrlands Turk
First Germany, now Sweden. Its pretty obvious that Greeks are living on EU.
23:34 July 17, 2010 by know
Take my picture. it cost 10 kronor.
12:10 July 21, 2010 by banuazizi
Are you Greek looking with huge beard ?
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Swedish blogger snaps commuting 'macho men'

Swedish blogger snaps commuting 'macho men'

A Stockholm woman fed up with male passengers on public transport taking up the space of women sitting next to them, has started a blog snapping secret pics of straddle-legged commuters and posting them on the internet. READ »

Swedish town gives 'Negro Village' new name

Swedish town gives 'Negro Village' new name

A suburb of Mjällby, southern Sweden, known by locals as ‘Negro Village’ for forty years, will be changing its name after a storm of recent attention. READ »

German 'tourist' living in Gothenburg airport

A 27-year-old German man has been living at the Gothenburg Landvetter airport for two months having no wish to return to Germany and nowhere to go in Sweden. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Dramatic rise in dementia numbers in Sweden

Dramatic rise in dementia numbers in Sweden

Every second Swede is at risk of developing dementia, according to a new study from Umeå University, which concentrated on the 85+ population in northern Sweden. READ »

Masked man raped cyclist in Malmö park

After a 28-year-old woman was pulled off her bicycle and raped by an unidentified assailant in Malmö over the weekend, and police are fearing it could be the work of a budding serial rapist. READ (8 COMMENTS) »

Narcolepsy victims in new compensation bid

Narcolepsy victims in new compensation bid

Families of children in Sweden suffering from narcolepsy caused by vaccination for the swine flu can expect some form of compensation, Swedish health minister Göran Hägglund said on Sunday in response to new calls for help from parents. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Löfven ready to negotiate over nuclear power

Löfven ready to negotiate over nuclear power

The new leader of the Social Democrats Stefan Löfven has indicated he's ready to negotiate with the government over the future of nuclear power despite a previous party decision to phase out nuclear energy in Sweden. READ (1 COMMENT) »

One in five Swedes 'believes in ghosts'

One in five Swedes 'believes in ghosts'

One in five Swedes believes that people rise from the grave after they've died, a new survey has shown. READ (8 COMMENTS) »

More Society

Highlights from Follow Sweden

20 things to know before moving to Sweden

As diverse as Sweden is, there are a few societal norms that are distinctly Swedish. Understanding a handful of them will hopefully prepare you culturally before you relocate. When you're invited home to a Swede, you better be on time and take your shoes off, writes expat Lola Akinmade-Åkerström. Read more »

How far can English take you in Sweden?

Sweden is a country where almost everyone can speak English. So why bother to learn Swedish? Edina Varnagy from Hungary managed with English for a whole year but then found that Swedish could open doors – to a job, a social life and greater understanding. Read more »


Blog Update: Julie's Nordic Island

12 February 21:30

The consciousness of one »

"The ice dripped in the winter sun. It was the first day when the light had been intense enough to cause dripping in the sunlight. To hear it was an extraordinary wakeup call. The cycle was happening again as it always does, always will (or so we think). I imagined that on my summer island, the bees..." READ »

Highlights
The Local
SOCIETY »
The Local's Oliver Gee finds out why the star of Sweden's version of 'The Office' thinks Sweden is the most PC country in the world
Micheal Brauer/Flickr (File)
SCIENCE & TECH »
'Drunkorexia' on the rise in Sweden: report
Alexander Lervik and Johan Carper
LIFESTYLE »
Seven Swedish designs that will blow your mind
Eva Rinadi Celebrity and Live Music Photography/Flickr
SOCIETY »
Star Wars in Swedish causes fan outrage
www.dotoday.se
LIFESTYLE »
What's On: The Local's guide to upcoming attractions and events in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.
OLIKA Publishing
OPINION »
The Swedish language needs a new pronoun free of preconceived notions about gender, a Swedish linguist and representatives from a publishing house argue
Madonna set for July 4th concert in Sweden
SOCIETY »
Madonna set for July 4th concert in Sweden
TV4
GALLERY »
An inside look at 'The Office' in Swedish
Georgios M.W (File)
SOCIETY »
Swedish mother gave 3-year-old cigs and beer
Photo: Fredrik Persson/Scanpix
SOCIETY »
A duvet cover designed to look like cardboard boxes, on sale at a luxury department store in Stockholm, has some arguing that the city's homeless are being exploited for profit.
Ann Catrin Brockman/Flickr (File)
LIFESTYLE »
Five Swedish songs that never made Eurovision
Q&A with Swenglish comedy star Ben Kersley
LIFESTYLE »
Swenglish comedy star Ben Kersley explains how ‘three bespectacled English guys’ plan to make Swedes laugh
Photo: Screenshot YouTube
SOCIETY »
Move over Bugs – a Swedish bunny is rapidly becoming the most popular rabbit in the world!
Photo: Sony Pictures
SPONSORED ARTICLE
How Millennium films tap deep into Swedish angst
Photo: Helena Wahlman
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Braving the cold: Ten reasons to spend winter in Sweden
Photo: ECLA
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A truly international education at the heart of Berlin
Highlights from Follow Sweden
Swedish word of the day

fin

adjective

Fin means anyhting from sweet to proper. When someone says, Du är så fin it's quite a compliment.

Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Blog
Highlights from Follow Sweden
New book about Sweden – get to know the country

Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth is a book about Sweden today. A country of natural beauty and open space, and a society focused on equality, human rights and sustainability. Meet regular and astonishing Swedes, supercars and indie rock bands, vampires and royalties.

Buy your copy of Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth from Sweden Bookshop

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

Jobs in Sweden, in English

506 jobs available
234 new jobs this week
43 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Turning Point Counseling
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp
Swedish Down Town
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
English Speaking Therapist Stockholm
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se
Get on the Tennis Court with www.babolatshop.se
The new Online Tennis Store with the largest selection of Babolat Products in Sweden
http://www.babolatshop.se