Warner Bros Sues Turkish National Player Kerem Aktürkoğlu Over Harry Potter Celebration and Social Media Posts
Kerem Aktürkoğlu, forward for the Turkish national football team, is facing legal action from Warner Bros. The company claims that his goal celebrations and social media posts associate him with the Harry Potter universe without authorization, raising questions about copyright and trademarks in public performances.
Warner Bros Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Turkish national Fenerbahçe SK football player, in the Istanbul Intellectual and Industrial Property Rights Court. The company alleges that Aktürkoğlu's goal celebrations and social media posts use visual and audio elements from the Harry Potter franchise without permission.
Aktürkoğlu's goal celebration, widely recognized by fans, mimics a spell-casting gesture inspired by Harry Potter. Beyond the field, he has shared content on Instagram and Twitter that playfully links him with the franchise, further amplifying the association among supporters.
According to Warner Bros, these actions go beyond homage and constitute unauthorized use of copyrighted material. The company has requested that the court conduct an online evidence search, reviewing the footballer's social media content to determine whether it infringes on trademarks and copyrights.
For fans, the celebration and online posts are seen as a fun, creative link between football and pop culture. However, the lawsuit highlights the legal complexities of intellectual property when athletes publicly use or reference copyrighted material, even in playful ways.
The case is now under review in Istanbul, and its outcome could set a precedent for how copyright and trademark law are applied to athletes' public celebrations and social media activity in Türkiye.
*** Image: beinsports.com.tr