Arnold Schwarzenegger is suing a Russian robot manufacturer for more than $10 million (£7.7m) for using his likeness and voice on one of its creations, according to TMZ.
The Terminator actor reportedly did not give his permission to Promobot to use his likeness on the robot, which is being used at public events to promote its Android Robo-C.
Complete with Arnie’s hair, realistic looking skin and his recognisable square jawline, the lookalike is being used to show how the company can customise service robots to look like a person of your choice.
However, the legal suit says Schwarzenegger, also a former California governor, is strict about who uses his face for advertising because “such activity diminishes his hard-earned and well-deserved reputation as a major motion picture star”.
.@Schwarzenegger’s creepy robot figure wants to be your friend! Arnold you down to be friends with it? pic.twitter.com/8ULXeFPbGq
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He has become the “unwilling face” of the product, lawyers said, according to TMZ.
The Austrian star was allegedly asked to pose for a photo with the robot, which is just a head and shoulders, in St Petersberg in 2019 but he refused.
The suit says after that, Promobot kept using the android, including at the Consumer Technology Association (CES) conference in Las Vegas in January.