B.J. Novak has become the face some of random products around the world. But it wasn’t exactly by choice.
On Monday, The Office star hit up Instagram to share the wide range of product packaging that featured the same shot of his smirking mug. The items included everything from rain ponchos and electric razors to Swedish cologne and even Uruguayan face paint.
The 42-year-old actor suggested he didn’t become aware of the situation until recently, and provided a wild explanation on how the unauthorized endorsements came to be.
“Years ago, someone mistakenly put an image of me on a public domain site,” he wrote in an Instagram story, “and now apparently I am on products all around the world.”
Although he could take legal action in an effort to fix this “mistake,” Novak told his followers he has no plans to do so. Why? Because he has a sense of humor.
“I am too amused to do anything about it,” he continued.
As pointed out by the New York Times, it’s unlikely that Novak has been compensated for the use of his image, as public domain photos can be used free of charge. However, if Novak’s amusement ever wears off, he and his legal team may have options. Marc Misthal, an attorney who specializes in copyright and trademark law, told the Times that the actor can send cease-and-desist letters to the companies in question, or even file lawsuits.
“It’s really the fact that his face or likeness is associated with a particular product, because they’re using his likeness in order to attract customers and basically make money,” Misthal said.
Novak isn’t the only actor whose face has been used to sell random products. MCU and Kim’s Convenience actor Simu Liu took to Twitter several years ago to poke fun at the stock images he posed for back in 2014.
