Rooney: will his image rights income wax or wayne?
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| Impressed by Wayne Rooney's pay packet, the IPKat and Merpel get into training |
The IPKat wonders whether this remarkable sum is likely to fall somewhat, following reports that Rooney, whose lucrative playing contract with leading football club Manchester United still has 18 months to run, is strongly rumoured to be leaving the club; worse, he is strongly tipped by the popular press to be likely to move to the only club in the Premier League that can match his preposterous £250,000 a week wage demands -- United's deadly rival and much-hated near neighbour Manchester City.
The IPKat suspects that, for as long as Rooney is at odds with United and likely to be about to leave, sales of his United shirts, posters and other memorabilia are likely to dry up. Meanwhile, until it is known which team (whether in England or wherever else expensive football is played) purchases the right to play him, it is hardly possible for him to promote himself and his merchandise in the colours of anyone else. The Kat wonders what provisions, if any, protect the financial interests of his licensees against eventualities of this nature -- which happen frequently enough with footballers. Are there standard clauses, or a boilerplate? Has Rooney given indemnities? We'd really love to know.
Merpel says, even if he's not attached to any football team, Rooney can still exploit his own image in an unbranded manner -- if he doesn't mind going naked. The IPKat says, I don't think he's scared shirtless by the prospect ...
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