By Dan Modlin
Bowling Green, KY – The Media Empire owned by Italian Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi is being sued by Western Kentucky
University and the company that handles the licensing
rights for the mascot known as "Big Red." University
officials say the Italian firm copied Big Red in developing
an Italian media character named Gabbibo.
WKU Attorney Deborah Wilkins says Gabbibo has earned
about 250 million dollars for Berlusconi's Mediaset
company. And university officials contend that the
creator of Gabbibo once admitted copying his character
from Big Red.
A spokesman for Mediaset contends that Gabbibo was
trademarked before Big Red. A scheduling conference
for the trial is set for Wednesday in Italy.