A Columbia University graduate and former model, that doesn't want to "rev up your love life" is suing Volvo, Hertz and her former modeling agency, Ford, for nearly $25 million as they used her image in a sexually suggestive way that she considers offensive, and failed to compensate her, as reported by the New York Daily News and The Wall Street Journal.
C.G. claims that her image was used without her expressed consent and, in one particular advertising campaign, portrays her as a professional Swedish escort.
David Jaroslawicz, C.G.'s attorney, stated that the advertisement that his client is referring to makes her "looks like something you'd see in the old yellow pages directories under escort services. It makes her look sleazy."
In the lawsuit, Ford Models is accused of allowing Volvo car sales and Hertz car rentals to take her image – into the worldwide market – though she was paid a flat, one-time only, fee only to promote the Volvo S40.
C.G.'s former boyfriend, currently living in Argentina, alerted her when he had seen the advertisements there.
C.G. explained to reporters, "He thought he had seen my photo in a Hertz ad there. I found that Volvo was using my picture for different (car) models in 30 countries."
C.G. also reported seeing her picture in the foreign ads to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The lawsuit is seeking $23 million in damages.
On a website, called "Fast Impressions", C.G. also found her image. Allegedly a headline near her photo read, "Spend the night with a Swedish model of your choice" and the exact caption for her photo says, "Rev Up Your Love Life."
The website was marketing parties meant for "Elites Only." Those participating would be able to "boost (their) midweek social diary" by driving around Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, in new Volvos. They would then enjoy cocktails with "sexy Swedish models of all shapes and sizes."
C.G. sees the use of her image, without her permission, to be akin to false ownership. Jaroslawicz said, "I can't take Julia Roberts' picture and advertise soap. They started using her (C.G.) as if they owned her."
C.G. began modeling at 18. She has currently earned her bachelor's degree from Columbia University in the field of psychology.
The suit names Volvo, Ford Models Agency and Hertz Corporation for using her image without her permission in a series of dating websites.
C.G.'s original earnings, for the one photo shoot, was $1,000. She contacted Ford, in an attempt to get them to enforce her contract, however, according to C.G., "they gave me the runaround."
When Ford failed to come to her aid, C.G. used "Google's reverse images" to make the additional discoveries.
Spokespersons for all three defendants were unavailable for comment.
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