Shanghai, May 26: Houston Rockets centre Yao Ming has filed a lawsuit against Coca-Cola for unlawfully using his image and is demanding a public apology and one Yuan (12 cents) in compensation.
Yao's management agency said in a statement on his website today that "the core of the lawsuit is to protect Yao's legal rights, while the amount of compensation is less important".
"The unauthorised use of Yao's image has already harmed his reputation," it added. The indictment was filed in a Shanghai court on Friday.
On May 15, Yao released a statement claiming that the Coca-Cola company was using his image without permission and demanded it be removed from their products.
The spat stems from just released commemorative Coke bottles in China which feature a photo of Yao and fellow Chinese national team stars Mengke Bateer and Guo Shiqiang wearing their national team shirts.



"I have never permitted Coca-Cola to use my image to promote their products," Yao said in the statement carried by Xinhua news agency.



"I require Coca-Cola to withdraw immediately all the products bearing my image and all promotion materials which use my names or images."


Bureau Report