Reports | Sachin Tendulkar sues Spartan over licensing deal

According to reports by AFP, Sydney law firm Gilbert and Tobin said on Thursday that Spartan were being sued for failing to pay Sachin millions of dollars under an exclusive agreement. The lawsuit that has been filed with the Federal Circuit Court in Sydney alleged that Spartan failed to pay royalties and endorsement fees, and continued to use Tendulkar’s name and image even after he had terminated the agreement.

Sachin had agreed to promote Spartan’s good and sportswear in 2016 in addition to allowing the company to use his name and image on cricket bats and other goods. 

Partner at the law firm Gilbert and Tobin, Siabon Seet said that the former Indian cricketer was claiming “substantial damages” against Spartan and their body of directors for breach of contract and deceptive conduct. The lawyers say they were left with “no other option” but to file the case.

“Tendulkar has made every effort possible to try to resolve this dispute with Spartan before filing his case," Seet said in a statement as reported by AFP.

According to the statement released by Seet and Mrinmoy Mukherjee, chief executive of Sachin’s management team, the law firm, SRT Sports Management, and the cricketer himself had tried all possible options to get Spartan to respect the agreement over the last 24 months. 

“However, that has not resulted in any fruitful outcome. That led to Mr Tendulkar terminating the agreement with Spartan and directing them to stop using his images and endorsement for Spartan. Since that also has not been respected and adhered to, Mr Tendulkar is left with no other option but to now file an appeal in the court of law to enable him to get his outstanding dues and stop Spartan from wrongfully using his imagery," a statement said, reported the Sydney Morning Herald. 

The case, with the dues figure reported to be around 2 million USD, is due to go to trial later this year.