Telkomsel told to withdraw products

JAKARTA: The South Jakarta District Court ordered telecommunications company PT Telkomsel on Thursday to pull all telephone cards and advertisements showing model Filiana Andalusia S. within three months.

If Telkomsel fails, the company will be required to pay Rp 20 million each day the ads and cards are in circulation.

The interim decision was read out by presiding judge Solbaiti Sesunan, who heard the lawsuit filed by Filiana against Telkomsel, Parama model agency and Inter Admark advertising company.

Filiana demanded the accused pay Rp 6.725 billion in compensation for the alleged illegal use of her picture on Telkomsel's Halo phone card.

Filiana had signed a contract with Parama to model for Telkomsel from March 1, 1996 to January 1997. Her picture, which shows her as a dancer dressed in traditional Betawi costume, was later used by Telkomsel to promote its Halo card, the plaintiff said.

The plaintiff said Telkomsel continued to use her picture on its card, although the contract between the plaintiff and Parama had expired.

Lawyer Sulistya Adi, who represents Telkomsel, said that Telkomsel would obey the court order. He also urged the plaintiff to settle the case outside of court.--JP