JohnCenaFan28
12-16-2008, 10:59 PM
Lawyers for Carla Bruni are taking legal action to prevent a company from selling a bag featuring a nude image of her.
WARNING: NUDITY
http://www.ananova.com/images/web/1462273.jpg
They are claiming more than £100,000 in damages from the firm, Pardon, based in the Indian Ocean island of Reunion, reports the BBC.
The white canvas bag features a black-and-white image of former model Ms Bruni, who is married to French President Nicholas Sarkozy.
The bags have already been on sale in Reunion for £2.60 each, and were due to go on sale in France this week.
"Neither Carla Bruni nor the photographer has given consent for the use of the photo," said lawyer Gesche Le Fur at a court hearing in Saint-Denis, capital of the French Indian Ocean island.
Ms Bruni's legal team argue that the first lady did not want the image's original goal of raising Aids awareness to be "hijacked" and used for commercial purposes.
An original print of the picture - taken by Swiss-born fashion photographer Michel Comte - fetched £59,000 at a New York auction in April.
Pardon boss Peter Mertes told the court that the 10,000 bags had been pulled from the shelves, and that the company planned to burn them.
Mr Mertes' lawyer argued that the sum sought by Ms Bruni was excessive. The court is expected to give its decision on Thursday.
-Nova
WARNING: NUDITY
http://www.ananova.com/images/web/1462273.jpg
They are claiming more than £100,000 in damages from the firm, Pardon, based in the Indian Ocean island of Reunion, reports the BBC.
The white canvas bag features a black-and-white image of former model Ms Bruni, who is married to French President Nicholas Sarkozy.
The bags have already been on sale in Reunion for £2.60 each, and were due to go on sale in France this week.
"Neither Carla Bruni nor the photographer has given consent for the use of the photo," said lawyer Gesche Le Fur at a court hearing in Saint-Denis, capital of the French Indian Ocean island.
Ms Bruni's legal team argue that the first lady did not want the image's original goal of raising Aids awareness to be "hijacked" and used for commercial purposes.
An original print of the picture - taken by Swiss-born fashion photographer Michel Comte - fetched £59,000 at a New York auction in April.
Pardon boss Peter Mertes told the court that the 10,000 bags had been pulled from the shelves, and that the company planned to burn them.
Mr Mertes' lawyer argued that the sum sought by Ms Bruni was excessive. The court is expected to give its decision on Thursday.
-Nova