Ryanair

Controversial airline ads 2008

“With Ryanair, the whole family can attend my wedding.” Alongside a photo of the presidential couple, this advertisement for Ryanair was published a few days before Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni got married. In the past the low-cost Irish transport firm which, in 23 years of business has become one of Europe’s biggest airlines, distinguished itself by offering the Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who is single, a honeymoon trip with a member of Parliament (she filed a complaint). The same company previously used the Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson’s image with the caption: “Is it time to flee the country?” Once again without permission. 30 years after George Pompidou successfully banned advertising with his image for the Mercury boat brand, Nicolas Sarkozy filed for a summary procedure. He asked for one euro in damages. His spouse claimed €500,000, the rate for using her image for advertising purposes. After deciding that the advertisement did infringe the right to use images, the judge awarded Nicolas Sarkozy one euro and Carla Bruni €60,000, which she gave to the “Restos du cœur” charity.