X17online.com Sues PerezHilton.com

Yes, it’s finally happened – after ignoring countless cease and desist notices from numerous photo agencies and media outlets, Mario Lavandeira, a.k.a. Perez Hilton, has been sued in federal court for copyright infringement by X17, Hollywood’s largest celebrity photo agency. X17 contends that Lavandeira, the owner and operator of the celebrity gossip blog PerezHilton.com and the self-styled “Queen of All Media,” has knowingly and willfully used X17’s images on his blog without permission from the agency, thereby violating federal law. Lavandeira’s actions have caused substantial damage to X17’s business in the form of diversion of trade, loss of profits, injury to goodwill and reputation, and the dilution of the value of its rights.

In court papers filed today, X17, the owners of X17online.com, seek over $7.5 million in damages for Lavandeira’s infringing activities.

Mr. Lavandeira has been featured in countless magazines and newspapers and has appeared regularly on various television news outlets in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. GQ listed him in their Man of the Year issue; the AP and the LA Times have profiled him; the New York Post called him one of the 25 most powerful Latinos and he has appeared on almost every major U.S. network commenting on the day’s entertainment headlines. He is said to be shopping around a reality show and he is set to appear on MTV’s New Year’s Eve special. “Perez” claims he receives 2.5 million unique visitors each day on his website.

Mr. Lavandeira has regularly infringed on X17’s large scoops. While it usually takes weeks of effort by a team of photographers and reporters to break a story, for Mr. Lavandeira, it has been as simple as a right-click.

Mr. Lavandeira is profiting through advertisements on his site (one-week ads on his site go for between $9000 - $16,000) and has gained relative fame from the success of his blog, which, X17 contends, is due in large part to the quality and quantity of celebrity images he posts on his site, many of which are owned by X17.

X17 is repped for advertising by Gorilla Nation, the world’s largest online ad rep firm. As X17 made its foray into the world of celebrity blogs, they sought out Gorilla Nation to represent them to the brand marketing community. Gorilla Nation was excited to take on X17online.com as the first and largest celebrity photo agency to start their own website to allow the public direct, free and immediate access to the biggest stories in Hollywood, told with the most sought after images of the stars.

CAMERON DIAZ DAZZLES FOR THE HOLIDAY

The Holiday premiere
November 30, 2006, 7pm
Ziegfeld Theater

Tented arrival area with somewhat cooperative PR.

A-list was placed right after the outside shooters creating a long pap pit.

We did have a few shooters leave, as we were stacked a solid two rows deep and spots were limited. And we had to rip open the tent for ventilation.

Everyone posed. Kate with droopy hair, a stern Jude and a VERY leggy Cameron.
PR was even nice enough to give us a cast shot of Kate, Jude and Cameron.

From my reports there were 18 people on the list at 11am.

K-Fed: "FUCK THE MEDIA! FUCK THE PAPARAZZI!"

Kevin Federline doesn't like the media - and the hate is mutual.

Kevin Federline recently declared himself the most hated man in America.

While on stage at Hollywood's House of Blues recently, K-Fed screamed, "F**k the media, f**k the paparazzi. Maybe because I took their queen I am America's most hated."

Earlier this week, K-Fed was the butt of jokes at the American Music Awards, at which Britney Spears presented an award nomination, while K-Fed's look-a-like doll was booed.

Britney Spears filed for divorce from Federline this month citing irreconcilable differences and since then K-Fed has been blamed for the breakup by the media and fans.

Since the split, there have been rumors the 28-year-old former dancer has been trying to sell a four hour sex tape of him and Britney Spears, but later he has denied the tape ever existed.

The couple have both filed for custody of their two sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James.

K-Fed reportedly wants at least $6 million from his ex-wife, despite signing a prenuptial agreement.

Damon is to keep the paparazzi away

Matt Damon has a genius plan set to keep the paparazzi away from him. He is determined to appear as “a dull persona” and as boring as possible whenever he gives an interview.

As newkerala.com mentions, the “Bourne Identity” star revealed that he was "actively trying" to avoid all the publicity that has dodged his every step for better part of a decade.

"I've worked very hard in interviews to portray a very polite and boring person. I'm actively trying to get away from the over-exposure that happened eight years ago," said Damon quoted by Contactmusic.

Damon, who became a first-time father in June this year when wife Luciana BozBarroso gave birth to the couple's first daughter Isabella, hates press conferences.

The only time he will willingly appear in front of the cameras, is when he's promoting his newest film.

The reason why Hollywood hunk not often gave interviews is because the only thing they do is "hurt" an actor's career.

"The only thing a celebrity can do in one of these articles is hurt their own career. If I give you a really good interview, am I going to get a movie out of it? F**k no! So what's the argument for saying anything, unless you have this rampaging need to please?" also said Matt.

Hilary Tricks Paparazzi

Hilary Duff has found a way to fool invasive paparazzi.

Duff recently told Jane magazine, that if she's ever arguing with boyfriend Joel Madden and the photogs are trying to snap pictures, they'll just smile and laugh pretending everything is okay. Duff says the couple will forget they were fighting in the first place.

WOW...she's VERY clever.
Now why do we care about her?

TomKat ado ignites Dolce Vita in Rome

ROME - Poised with his camera outside Rome‘s elegant Hassler hotel, the so-called King of Paparazzi is waiting to get a shot.

"The Dolce Vita is back!" Rino Barillari exclaimed triumphantly, referring to the 1960 Fellini movie that coined the word "paparazzi" and gave the world the image of the glamorous Swedish star Anita Ekberg splashing around Trevi fountain.

It‘s Friday — five days since Tom Cruise first landed in Rome ahead of his highly awaited, Saturday wedding with Katie Holmes , expected to take place at a 15th-century castle in the lakeside town of Bracciano, 27 miles north of Rome.

On Wednesday, at last, Cruise and Holmes left the hotel for a late-night visit to City Hall, sending paparazzi chasing after them on motor scooters through the capital‘s streets.

"I got some good pictures," Barillari said cheerfully in a telephone interview.

His Web site features the logo, "The King of Paparazzi," and his battle cry is "War is war!" His subjects have included Liz Taylor and Richard Burton, Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Peter O‘Toole.

"This is the wedding of the century. In the whole world they will be demanding the most beautiful pictures," Barillari gushed.

VIP guests who have been spotted in Rome in the past couple of days include Jennifer Lopez and her singer husband Marc Anthony , Will Smith , Brooke Shields , Jim Carrey , and soccer star David Beckham and his wife, Victoria.

The good news is there is money to be made merely by getting pictures of some of Cruise and Holmes‘ guests, Barillari and other photographers said.

Still Barillari insists "the good times are back," citing as well this year‘s inaugural Rome Film Festival, which brought such stars as Cruise‘s ex, Nicole Kidman , to the Italian capital.

Paparazzi King Gets Face Bashed In

Blood streamed down the face of "Celebrities Uncensored" paparazzi guru E.L. Woody after a late night argument turned violent outside of Area nightclub in Hollywood.

It all went down as Brody Jenner exited the club, smiling and waving to waiting shutterbugs. While Woody photographed him, a random clubgoer approached and began shouting, "What are you doing? You don't need to shoot him, leave him alone." According to Woody, the man then broke a microphone off of another photog's camera.

Woody says he quickly approached the attacker and told him that he would have to pay for the damaged camera. That's when things got bloody. According to Woody, the man then grabbed another mic and smashed Woody in the face with it, opening a bloody gash above his left eye.

Private security quickly threw the alleged attacker in handcuffs and tossed him in the back of a security vehicle, while a battered Woody screamed at him. "Look what you did to my face? If you can't handle your liquor, you shouldn't be out! I don't care who you are, you're going to jail!"

E.L. Woody is scheduled to undergo a CATscan at a local hospital and will get stiches later today. Woody tells TMZ he will definitely file charges.

Cruise-Holmes wedding recalls Rome's Dolce Vita

La Dolce Vita is back.

Rome basked in Hollywood glamour on Friday as paparazzi gave chase to Tom Cruise and his bride-to-be Katie Holmes, along with a jetload of celebrity guests, ahead of their wedding on Saturday in a lakeside town north of the Italian capital.

"La Dolce Vita returns to the Tiber" and "Hollywood decamps to Rome" read Italian newspaper headlines, reviving memories of the 1950s and '60s when the Eternal City teemed with film stars.

A medieval castle in the lakeside town of Bracciano, 40 km (25 miles) north of Rome, has been tipped as the venue for Saturday's wedding, although seasoned showbusiness watchers do not rule out a last-minute change of plan to outwit the media.

"I just came to have a good time in Italy," American movie star Will Smith told reporters after landing at Ciampino airport on Friday.

Jim Carrey, Jennifer Lopez, Jada Pinkett Smith, Brooke Shields and "Mission: Impossible III" director J.J. Abrams are among the guests already here for the nuptials. John Travolta, who shares Cruise's Scientologist faith, was also expected.

Shields, who last year had a public spat with Cruise as he criticized her for taking medication to treat post-partum depression, braved the waiting photographers for a shopping stroll around the Spanish Steps.

UPDATE: Denise Richards Won't Be Charged

Police said Friday that Denise Richards won't face charges for throwing two laptop computers over a balcony in a tussle with paparazzi in western Canada.

The actress was accused of hurling two laptops from a balcony at the River Rock Casino and Hotel on Wednesday, hitting two elderly women below.

The incident occurred after two photographers tried to snap pictures of Richards by gaining unauthorized access to the set where she's filming a movie with actress Pamela Anderson.

The 90-and 81-year-old women were sitting in the lobby when the computers hit them on their arms, causing minor injuries.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cpl. Peter Thiessen says it's not in the public interest to bring criminal charges.

He says the photographers, Richards and her management company have agreed to settle the matter civilly regarding the damages to the photographers' laptops.

HONORING ALL WHO SERVED

Crowe blames press for his ‘paparazzi-hater’ image

Academy Award winner Russell Crowe has blasted the media for portraying him as a violent man.

Though he admits that he has made many mistakes in the past, he insists that he is not as regularly involved in fights as the media depicts him to be.

Crowe, who was arrested last year for assaulting a hotel employee with a telephone in New York, expressed frustration over reports on his fights with paparazzi.

"There is a lot of just intentional misinformation, as well. I''ve never had a fight with a photographer, for example, but you can find hundreds of articles on the net which will list me fighting with paparazzi, something I do apparently on a regular basis,” Contactmusic quoted him as saying.

"But that''s just not true. I just don''t bother letting it bug me anymore, and because it doesn''t bug me, in this odd way, it happens less," he said.

Meanwhile, according to reports, Crowe has revealed that he was shocked while shooting for ‘American Gangster’ in New York, as the film’s police supervisor was the same one who had taken his mug shots after his arrest in the telephone assault case.

Crowe was arrested and charged with second-degree assault in connection with an incident at the Mercer Hotel where he threw a telephone at a clerk, who refused to help him phone his wife in Australia.

Denise Richards scuffles with paparazzi in B.C.

Hollywood actress Denise Richards got in a scuffle with a paparazzi photographer Wednesday in Vancouver, where she is shooting her new film "Blonde and Blonder."

A laptop computer was hurled and a senior citizen was injured during the bizarre clash, according to reports.

Richards, whose on again, off again relationship with actor Charlie Sheen has been targeted by the tabloids, was filming a scene at the River Rock Casino Resort in the Vancouver suburb of Richmond.

According to eyewitnesses, Richards spotted two unauthorized photographers shooting pictures from a balcony, and stormed upstairs to confront them.

"At one point Denise was observed to grab the laptop of one of the photographers and throw it over the balcony. The laptop hit on the way down an elderly woman on the arm," eTalk gossip blogger Elaine (Lainey) Lui told CTV Vancouver.

The 80-year-old woman was only slightly injured, according to witnesses.

Cpl. Peter Thiessen, a media relations officer for the Richmond RCMP told People magazine that officers were called to the casino.

He confirmed Lainey's report, saying Richards threw the laptop off the balcony, after which it "struck an 80-year-old women in a wheelchair. It struck her in the arm. She was not interested in pursuing criminal charges and suffered only minor injuries."

The River Rock Casino Resort told CTV Vancouver the photographers did not have permission to be on the premises.

Richards was interviewed by police, along with her costar, B.C. native Pamela Anderson, about the incident.

The film production company agreed to pay for the damages to the photographers' computer, Thiessen said.

A representative of the Blonde and Blonder film told People there were no serious injuries and the event was getting blown out of proportion.

Filming was reportedly halted for an hour because cast members were upset about the incident.

"Blonde and Blonder" is described as "Legally Blonde" meets "Dumb and Dumber."

Lindsay Lohan Involved In Another Paparazzi Car Crash

Lindsay Lohan was involved in her third car crash in two years on Tuesday after being rear ended by a paparazzi.

The actress was uninjured following the incident and was able to drive her black Mercedes away after the 2am crash.

A source told the New York Daily News: "She was apparently able to drive a short distance from the crash. But she later pulled over and called a friend to pick her up."

In 2005 Lohan was involved in two similar incidents which resulted in new laws being passed in California to make paparazzi liable for more damages.

Madonna gets bruised in paparazzi scuffle

Pop diva Madonna got a bruise on her cheek after being shoved by paparazzi at London's Heathrow airport over the weekend, while she was holding her adopted son David Banda.

Madonna returned to her home in London from New York City after spending a week there promoting her latest children's book, "Too Good to Be True," along with her U.S. TV concert special.

"She had the baby in her arms when it happened," TMZ.com quoted a source close to the singer, as telling People magazine.

"When she landed in London, there was a lot of pushing and shoving. She was jostled around. She got hit in the paparazzi's commotion," the source added.

However, the singer's 13-month-old son, whom she is in the process of adopting from a Malawian orphanage, was not hurt in the scuffle.

"Thank God the baby is OK," said the source.

Britney Spears Files for Divorce

I guess we we'll all be on Britney watch...

Britney Spears has filed a petition for divorce from Kevin Federline.

Spears filed legal papers today in Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing "irreconcilable differences." In her petition, Spears asks for both legal and physical custody of the couple's two children, one-year old Sean Preston and two-month old Jayden James, with Federline getting reasonable visitation rights.

As for money, sources tell TMZ the couple, who married in Sept. 2004, has an iron-clad prenup. Not surprisingly, Spears is waiving her right to spousal support. She's also asking the judge to make each party pay their own attorney's fees.

Spears gives the date of separation as yesterday, the same day she flaunted her incredible revamped physique during a surprise appearance on David Letterman's show. Sources tell TMZ there was no single reason for Britney pulling the plug, rather, it was "a string of events."

Spears has hired powerhouse celebrity divorce lawyer Laura Wasser, who has repped a number of celebs, including Angelina Jolie, Nick Lachey and Kiefer Sutherland. We're told Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe asked Wasser to rep both of them in their split, but Wasser declined for personal reasons.

VH1 CASTING FOR REALITY PAPARAZZI SHOW

Hey Guys...

I just received an email that VH1 is interested in casting some of us for a 'reality paparazzi' show. I've attached the email that I received so you can read it for yourself.

If anyone is interested, email me and I will send you the contact name and number.




This show is a straight up fly on the wall look at the daily life of the paparazzi. We call it observational documentary. The ins and outs, what's at stake to get that perfect shot, the pressure to be the one hot off the press, etc, etc.

There are no surprises, vote-offs, cast-offs or eating of the innards required.
We are looking for outspoken, articulate, fun, hip, energetic photographers that have a passion for their job. High marks if we can get a female.

If you have any questions, concerns about me, my experience, our production or any other please feel free to call me or write back.

We need to cast this ASAP.....

PHOTOGRAPHERS CAPTURED! (...on film)

Dangerous event photographers caged...from the Glamour Awards Monday night.
Toss in a bag of Halloween candy and they're good to go.

Thanks to Alyse L. for the contribution!