Blogger Is Sued for Copyright Infringement
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton is being stalked by paparazzi — in court, at least.
X17 Inc., a Los Angeles photo agency known for its images of stars in personal or embarrassing moments, has filed a $7.6 million federal copyright infringement lawsuit against Mr. Hilton.
Mr. Hilton’s Los Angeles-based site, PerezHilton.com, posts tabloid photos of celebrities and adds cheeky captions and rudimentary doodles.
The suit claims Mr. Hilton used 51 photographs without permission, payment, or credit, including images of a pregnant Katie Holmes, Kevin Federline pumping gas, and Britney Spears showing her assets.
“We’ve had trouble with a lot of bloggers,” X17 co-owner Brandy Navarre told the Los Angeles Times for a story on its Web site. “But he’s the biggest and the most arrogant. … He is stealing our images and costing us money every day,” she said.
Mr. Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, said he believes he has done nothing illegal.
