Paris Hilton Doesn’t Appreciate Hallmark’s Humor
Posted on September 7, 2007
Photo by Mandell Media Network at Parishiltoncentral.com
Headline-grabbing celebutant Paris Hilton is in the news again with Reuter’s announcement that the socialite has filed a lawsuit against greeting card giant Hallmark Cards. Paris is suing for commercial appropriation of her identity, invasion of privacy, misappropriation of publicity and false designation of origin under the Lanham Act. Hilton, 26, is suing for an injunction against the U.S. greeting card company and for more than $100,000 in damages.
In Hilton’s lawsuit, the heiress claims “a photograph of Ms. Hilton’s face is superimposed over a cartoon of a waitress serving food to a patron, along with the dialogue: ‘Don’t touch that, it’s hot. What’s hot? That’s Hot.’”
Hallmark has released a statement claiming, “These cards take a satirical look at news and gossip surrounding … public figures, including Paris Hilton, and we do not believe Hallmark has violated any of Ms. Hilton’s rights.”
Though it’s understandable that Paris might not have exactly felt like she was having a sentimental Hallmark moment when she discovered the company was using her likeness to sell cards, we’re wondering where the hotel heiresse’s sense of humor is at. Are these cards really that big of a deal?
2 comments
Satire is protected speech. Ask Jerry Falwell. Hustler depicted him in an advertisement, in which he allegedly discussed losing his virginity to his mother in an outhouse. The US Supreme Court determined that the depiction was satire, since no one would believe it to actually be true, and as such it was protected speech under the First Amendment.
No one is actually going to believe that Paris Hilton is working as a waitress, either.
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