By Mark Baber
January 12 – Paris Saint-Germain have sent a legal letter demanding Sri Lankan-British rapper MIA takes down the video for her new song ‘Borders’ as it features the singer wearing a PSG shirt modified to read “Fly Pirates” instead of “Fly Emirates”.
The legal letter, signed by PSG deputy CEO Jean Claude Blanc and addressed to the singer’s record company, Universal Music, came to light after MIA released a copy on her Twitter feed .
According to Blanc’s letter: “We had the unpleasant surprise to find that the singer, in this video clip, appears twice wearing the official jersey of our team, bearing the very easily recognisable logo PARIS ST GERMAIN and our sponsor’ brands (NIKE and QNB), and the brand of our sponsor EMIRATES which slogan was diverted from “FLY EMIRATES” to “FLY PIRATES”.
Recognising the intent behind the song, Blanc says: “The singer also published a picture of her song’s lyrics on her TUMBLR account where she denounces, as in her video clip, the treatment and living conditions of refugees who crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe.”
Different interpretations have been advanced as to why MIA wears the ‘Fly Pirates’ shirt, and Blanc admits to confusion saying: “More than being surprised, we simply do not understand why we are associated, through our logo and the official jersey of our team’s players, to such denunciation.
“The association is all the more hard to understand that nothing in our activities and in our daily initiatives suggests we have anything to do with the problems highlighted by M.I.A.”
In his letter Blanc then goes on to point out: “The football club PARIS SAINT GERMAIN has a remarkably impressive track record, as it notably won the French national championship five times, the French Cup nine times, the League’s Cup five times and the European Cup once.”
(The ‘European Cup’ win here probably relating to PSG’s Cup Winners Cup win)
He also points out that: “In the context of the refugees crisis, the Foundation made a donation of 1 million euros, on September 9th 2015 taken from the Club’s earnings to the French charity “Secours Poulaire” and the UNHCR.”
However, Blanc then goes on to lay out the basis for a legal claim against the record company asserting that: “In the light of the foregoing, we consider that the use of our brand and image in a video clip denouncing the treatment of refugees is a source of discredit for our club and distorts its public communication policy.”
This rests partly on “…Our high media exposure combined with the intense promotion of MIA’s videoclip resulted in numerous press articles which distorted in the public’s mind our image to your benefit.”
According to Blanc: “By causing us an image prejudice, you have unduly taken advantage from the considerable reputation of the club. Your actions are thus a source of both an economic prejudice and an image prejudice for which you may be held liable under Article 1383 of the French Civil Code.”
Blanc then sets out PSG’s demands which were: “Cease the broadcasting of images on any media which show the PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN jersey in the video clip BORDERS by M.I.A. or any other web clip”
“Refrain from using our image and brand in any way without our authorisation.”
“Compensate us for the harm we have suffered.”
Given that MIA has tweeted the contents of the letter and the video remains on YouTube, it is seems highly unlikely the singer and her record company have any intention of backing down in the face of PSG’s legal threats and it remains to be seen if the club decides to take the matter to court.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734919815labto1734919815ofdlr1734919815owedi1734919815sni@r1734919815ebab.1734919815kram1734919815