Blago Attorney Not Pleased With Jokey Billboard

A radio station billboard projecting Rod Blagojevich's face around Chicago has grabbed the attention of the former Illinois governor's attorney.

WIQI-FM/101.1 is using Blagojevich's image on a billboard with the slogan "He never listens" to advertise the station's all-news format.

It's one of several different ads being used across the city, but Sheldon Sorosky told Crain's Chicago Business the station should have asked permission first.

Sorosky, who represented Blagojevich during the former governor's two trials, pointed to the "Right to Publicity Act" that says a person's identity can't be used for commercial purposes without getting written consent first.

Sorosky told Crain's he doesn't believe Blagojevich, currently serving a 14-year prison sentence in Colorado, gave permission.

The attorney said he and his colleagues haven't made a decision about whether to have Blagojevich's image removed but said "it clearly seems to be a violation of the law."

Merlin Media, headed by the Randy Michaels who resigned from the Tribune company, launched the news station format last August

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