Deceased Golfer’s Sons Battle For Father’s Image Rights

Golfer Seve Ballestros died from brain cancer last year at the age of 54. Now his family is battling over the rights to his image. Ballesteros’s will left 90% of his wealth to his three children and left everything else to the Severiano Ballesteros Foundation that is headed by Ivan, the golfer’s nephew and agent. Thus, the golfer’s image rights are currently in the control of the golfer’s nephew.  The two sons don’t want to have to seek permission from the foundation and from Ivan if they wanted to use their father’s name or image. Much of Ballesteros’s fortune came from his endorsements of Hugo Boss. Ballesteros’s daughter has not become involved in the dispute.

See Ballesteros Heirs Battle Over Rights to Image, Contents of Will, Estate of Denial, Mar. 12, 2012.

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (Professional Legal Marketing (PLM, Inc.)) for bringing this article to my attention.