Nairobi based radio station NRG, is on the wrong side of the law for using Kenya’s record-breaking marathoner Eliud Kipchoge’s name.
The radio station known for pulling publicity stunts on social media to make sales and gain followership is facing a legal battle with KTK advocates who have drawn up a lawsuit on behalf the marathoner who recently ran a marathon under two hours.
Shortly after Eliud Kipchoge’s historic run in Vienna, Austria on Sunday 12.10.19 during the INEOS 1:59 challenge, the station put out a social media challenge whereby they were to give the world’s greatest marathoner a BMW i8 car if they would get one million followers on their Instagram page in 24 hours.
The station further changed their taglines to Kipchoge radio and rebranded some shows to include Kipchoge’s name for example ‘KipchogeTransit’Â on social media.
In the lawsuit posted online today (18.10.19) by controversial city lawyer Donald Kipkorir, the radio station is allegedly in violation of Eliud Kipchoge’s privacy rights, brand rights, copyright and trademark rights.
Dear @NRGRadioKenya
Cc. @EliudKipchoge @WachiraLynne
Here, find our Demand Letter on behalf of Eliud Kipchoge … pic.twitter.com/i5Uteok7Qv
— Donald B Kipkorir (@DonaldBKipkorir) October 18, 2019
The widely circulated document also said that NRG used Kipchoge’s name in their social media communications without his consent and fraudulently used his name to gain followers on their social media accounts at the expense of the 34-year-old’s name. The document sarcastically added that Kipchoge never asked for the said car.
The document marked very urgent demanded an immediate removal of Eliud Kipchoge’s name in the station’s communications on all platforms, an apology for breaching the various rights and respond that they have complied with the demands.
NRG is also required to respond to the lawsuit within two hours of the document being emailed to them. Shortly after the documents were shared on Twitter, NRG cheekily responded with a reference to Eliud Kipchoge marathon record time.
Senior Counsel @DonaldBKipkorir our response to your demand on Twitter on behalf of our Listeners, Fans and Friends will be revealed in under 1:59:40.
— NRG Radio (@NRGRadioKenya) October 18, 2019
The station is yet to gain the one million followers that they had hoped for, pulled down the challenge posts and changed the remaining Kipchoge references like ‘Kipchoge Radio’ to ‘Mashujaa Radio.’
