Hilton Called The Shots
http://xbiz.com/articles/index.php?article_idp=1136
LOS ANGELES, Calif. ? Word has emerged from a Monday court hearing that hotel heiress Paris Hilton not only made her porn debut in the sex video of her and ex-boyfriend Rick Solomon, but that she also got her footing as a first-time director.
According to federal court papers filed by Seattle-based Marvad Corp. in response to a $10 million copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Solomon, Hilton played a major role in directing and shooting the video that is now being considered one of the hottest sex properties in Internet history.
Court papers are also claiming that simply based on the level of Hilton's participation in the tape's making, by default she is the co-owner of the copyright and that Solomon's failure to identify her as a "co-author" on his application for copyright registration renders the certificate invalid.
"So far the judge heard the case and is now trying to determine if he [Rick Solomon] has a valid copyright," Kevin Blatt of KB Consultants, told XBiz. KB is the public relations firm hired by Marvad. "This is definitely getting interesting and it is far from over, believe me."
Marvad is asking U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson to dismiss the lawsuit filed in November by Solomon based on the fact that Hilton's involvement in the making of the tape was not revealed by Solomon.
"Ms. Hilton offered directorial comments and physically controlled and directed the camera," Marvad claims. "Including pushing partner Rick Salomon aside so he wouldn't block a frame."
Monday's court news came as a surprise to many parties involved in the case and other lawsuits that resulted when the tape was acquired by Marvad via Don Thrasher, an ex-roommate of Solomon's, and released over the Internet.
The court papers also lent a blow to Hilton's lawyers who have so far contended that the young heiress was drugged and manipulated into appearing in the sex video.
Solomon has only recently stepped forward to claim ownership of the tape via several public appearances and through his brother Jim, both of whom have launched a website, TrustFundGirls.com, with the express interest of marketing the sex tape for $50 per download. Solomon has unabashedly admitted that he feels the sale of the tape over the Internet, in its digitally remastered format, will make him up to a $100 million.
"We bought the tape through Thrasher and he represented all along that he was partners with Solomon, but then Solomon claimed that it was stolen, and now here he is coming out with his own tape," Blatt told XBiz. "You would think any judge in their right mind would just throw the case out."
Also at issue is whether or not Hilton was over 18 years of age at the time of the tape's making. Hilton herself has not come forward to state otherwise and no documentation proving her age has surfaced, according to reports. Hilton has also not sued Solomon over possession of the tape.
"In my personal opinion, there's got to be a level of involvement on her behalf," Blatt said. "You cannot legally show this tape unless you have two people's consent. Something just doesn't smell right."
There are also reports filed by Marvad that Hilton was aware that Solomon was showing the video to friends, the New York Daily News reports.
Solomon's attorney reportedly dismissed the argument as "great for the media, bad for the law."
"My client owns the video," the attorney told Reuters. "When an actor appears in a motion picture and may help direct scenes ... that doesn't change ownership."
Rick Solomon was unavailable for comment at the time of this printing.