Former hurdler Liu Xiang sues Didi for unauthorized image use

A Chinese mobile phone user uses the taxi-hailing and car-service app Didi Chuxing on his Apple iPhone smartphone in Jinan city, east China's Shandong province, Feb 22, 2015.[Photo/IC]

BEIJING - Chinese former Olympic hurdles champion Liu Xiang has filed a lawsuit against online ride-hailing service provider Didi for using his image without authorization in online ads, a Beijing court said Friday.

The Haidian District People's Court has accepted the case.

In the indictment, Liu said the company released news of Liu's retirement and six images of him through its official microblog account in April 2015, according to the court in a statement.

"My runway, my hurdles. Every ending point is a new start. Fighting," said the post, followed by content promoting its app Didi Chuxing.

Liu Xiang officially retired at Diamond League Shanghai on May 17, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

Liu said the company violated his rights of publicity for commercial use and misled the public to believe Liu had been hired as the company's brand spokesman or had cooperated with the company.

Liu requested the company apologize, immediately delete the related web links and photos, and provide compensation of 1.26 million yuan ($190,000).

The statement did not mention when the hearing is scheduled.