The Model Release Form that Got Away

According to a February 1, 2005 report via Asscoiated Press, Russell Christoff stumbled across his likeness on a Taster's Choice coffee jar while shopping at a drug store in 2002. A California court has now ordered Nestle to pay him $15.6 million for using his likeness without his permission. Christoff's attorney reportedly said his client posed in the disputed photo in 1986 with the understanding that he would be paid $2,000 if it were used to promote Taster's Choice in Canada. Nestle USA attorney Lawrence Heller said the company would appeal the verdict. "The employee that pulled the photo thought they had consent to use the picture."

Perhaps they should have also checked out the Model Release Forms of the Advertising Photographers of America.