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Abortion ad sends supermodel running to court

By Hu Deman (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-07-23 10:57

Add adverts to the growing list of fake products or shanzhai ("mountain stronghold") versions of the real thing. Supermodel Lin Chi-ling is suing a Dongguan gynecology clinic that promoted its "2-minute painless abortion" at a cost of 400 yuan ($59), using the Red Cliff actress' image. Adding insult to injury the clinic used a photo that was part of Lin's uterus cancer prevention campaign, for which she is an ambassador.

"I believe lots of showbiz personalities have had similar experiences," said Lin's assistant, called "Gaby" in the Apple Daily newspaper report.

This is not far from the truth. Earlier this month, Beijing Modern Women's Hospital was found to have wrongfully used Fan Bingbing's name to market its plastic surgery and had to cough up 100,000 yuan in damages. We also reported recently on Li Yuchun, the Super Girl winner with a boyish personality, who became an unwitting spokesperson for family planning when a Chongqing township used her image without permission.

Interestingly, perhaps, fake adverts aren't limited to China. Two years ago a British "adult modeling" business claimed that Lin was one of its "Asian beauties", suggesting she was available by mail order.

In Taipei, Jay "King of Mandopop" Chou is in trouble with health inspectors after diners found a cockroach in his restaurant. Bloggers visited the aptly named "Mr. J French-Italian Restaurant" and according to Apple Daily (which followed up on the report) found a broken air extractor and chair, an open electrical switch box, chipped glasses, sand in clams and the above-mentioned insect. Chou's record company, JVR Music, responded he didn't invest in the restaurant, it was owned by friends.

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