Sunday, June 26, 2005

Maria Sharapova's breasts marketed without Maria

Maria Sharapova said "I don't care what they're selling" when asked by a reporter if the WTA was selling sex to promote the women's tour. I hope she meant it, because now some Japanese entrepreneurs have decided to sell "Sharanpowan" breast pillows in three colors, and yes, the tennis "top" can be removed, revealing bare "breasts." The marketing even includes a man's hand handling the breast.

I do not know the legal implications of this marketing campaign. Changing the tennis star's name is obviously an attempt to avoid copyright violation, but it appears to this legal laywoman's eye that since everyone in the world knows it is meant to represent Sharapova, there ought to be some sort of legal recourse. Also at stake is the knock-off of the Nike logo.

Or maybe having her breasts strewn around pizza box-laden apartments is okay with Sharapova; I have no idea.