Michael Schumacher's family have been given £170,000 in compensation after a fake interview with the F1 icon that was published last year.
Die Aktuelle claimed to have used AI to predict a conversation between the seven-time champion and reporters, promising to 'finally get answers' almost 10 years on from his devastating skiing accident, while also labelling it an 'exclusive'.
Schumacher has lived away from the spotlight ever since hitting his head on a rock while skiing in France in 2013.
After the fake interview was published by Die Aktuelle, legal representatives working on behalf of the Schumacher family launched legal action against publishers Funke Mediengruppe.
Michael Schumacher's family have received compensation after a fake AI interview was published
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Ann Hoffman, the magazine's editor-in-chief, was sacked last year - while a public apology was provided for the 'tasteless and misleading article'.
Despite the apology, however, the Schumacher family pursued further legal recourse.
According to Ubermedien, a publication focused on media legal issues, the court has now ruled in the family's favour.
They have ordered Funke to pay £170,000 in damages.
The court also found the dismissal of Hoffman was not legally valid, too, after she successfully argued her case against wrongful dismissal.
Details of Schumacher's life today are currently unknown.
It has been over a decade since he was last pictured in public, with his family doing everything in their power to give him the privacy he needs.
Schumacher's wife, Corinna, has been a bedrock ever since the tragic accident.
Speaking in 2021, she said Schumacher is 'there' but 'different' than before - while also admitting she misses her husband every single day.
“I have never blamed God for what happened," she said on a Netflix documentary.
"It was just really bad luck. You can't have more bad luck in life.
“We live together at home, we treat him, we do everything so that Michael is better and doing well and that he feels our family solidarity.
“But it’s very clear that I miss Michael every day, and not just me – the children, the family, his father, everyone around him. Everyone misses Michael.
“But Michael is there. Different, but he is there and that gives us all strength."
She continued: “It is important that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as he can. Michael has always protected us, now we protect Michael."
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Michael Schumacher's wife Corinna has been a bedrock of support ever since the F1 icon's tragic skiing accident
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F1 journalist Roger Benoit has remained a close friend of Schumacher's amid his health battle.
But Benoit, speaking to Blick last year, said the Formula One legend was a 'case without hope'.
"No," he said when asked if there was any update on Schumacher's condition.
Michael Schumacher won seven F1 titles during his years in the sport
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"There is only one answer to this question and that is what his son Mick gave in one of his rare interviews in 2022 - 'I would give anything to talk to Dad'.
"This sentence says everything about how his father has been doing for over 3,500 days.
"A case without hope."
