Man Sues Over Boret Movie

[Homicidalheathen]

I was under the impression that if your in a public setting like a NY city street that you could video tape anything legally? I wonder if he didn't just suddenly get embarressed AFTER he saw how much the movie grossed.

Man sues studio over 'Borat'

June 9, 2007

NEW YORK -- A businessman seen fleeing from a hug from British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen in ''Borat'' has sued the hit movie's studio, 20th Century Fox, saying his civil rights were violated.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, seeks unspecified damages on behalf of the businessman, who listed himself as John Doe. The New York Post identified the man as Jeffrey Lemerond, 31.

Lemerond was shown running and yelling ''Go away!'' as Cohen's Borat character chased him down Manhattan's Fifth Avenue in an attempt to hug strangers.

Lemerond's June 1 lawsuit said the businessman suffered ''public ridicule, degradation and humiliation.'' It said 20th Century Fox knew it was unlawful to use Lemerond's likeness without his consent because the company scrambled his face in a trailer but did not do so in the movie.

AP

[BrassFusion]

That's why they blur people in jackass and cops and etc. It's not legal to show people in a defamatory light without their consent, and if you make money selling someone's image they can sue for royalties in most cases.

Also, you never know who's in the screen actors' guild.

I think there are journalistic exceptions, which is why we get to see Angelina Jolie's cellulite on the cover of Star.

[Homicidalheathen]

If I could sue over everytime someone embarressed me in public.........lordy would I be rich.

[know_buddy_kares]

The dumbass embarrassed himself. So he let his true nature show of being a fuckin prick. GOOD.

Also, who HASN'T tried suing over being in the Borat movie.

[crunchy_pickle (5)]

Why does it not surprise me that it's a businessman suing? He probably just sucks at life and wants to cash in while he can. What a douche.

[BrassFusion]

We're all businessmen.

[know_buddy_kares]

See what really makes it funny is he obviously didn't do his homework. That whole fucking town in Romania tried suing "Borat" for being taken advantage of claiming that it made it look as if they were seriously into incest, prostitution, and abortion. The frat boys also made a fuss over the ordeal. And lest I retrieved the wrong information, I don't think any of them won. So he tried to get rich about being shown how much of a cowardly homophobe he is... and didn't think that people with considerably bigger cases than his have tried before...

...nor did he think that this would remind everyone as to just how much of an asshole he is all over again, but this time he got his name out in the public eye.. not just a random anonymous face in a silly movie...

...My thoughts? Smooth move there, asshole. Way to use the ol' thinkin cap!

[Medea]

Should I sue, since he's using a mix of polish and yiddish to imitate the language of Khazikstan?

[BrassFusion]

Should I sue, since he's using a mix of polish and yiddish to imitate the language of Khazikstan?

If you were the embodiment of either of those languages and you had rights to the identity (you aren't).

Cohen fucked over a lot of people to make his probably quite stupid movie. He seems to be an asshole. He should be held to his contracts and charged the going rate for using someone's image without his consent. That's a serious infringement of privacy and it doesn't matter whether the guy suing is a "businessman" or just trying to make a buck. Do you guys want someone with a camera on you at City Club making out with some sleazeball on the couch, or smoking cigarettes even though you tell your mom that you quit, and showing that image on the silver screen without your consent? If you don't, doesn't everyone else deserve that right to privacy?

[Destroit]

Why didn't he just hug Borat? I'm sure he woulda liked. Yeah, frivolous lawsuits are starting to tear apart the whole justice system. I realize this is off topic, but did anyone else follow the news story about the judge who tried to suit his dry cleaning place? It was a couple, two hardworking foreigners from Korea I believe, and he said that they "ruined" the pants he dropped off, which they didn't, and he tried to sue them for a few mil I believe. The whole thing was just stupid.

[Medea]

Why didn't he just hug Borat? I'm sure he woulda liked. Yeah, frivolous lawsuits are starting to tear apart the whole justice system. I realize this is off topic, but did anyone else follow the news story about the judge who tried to suit his dry cleaning place? It was a couple, two hardworking foreigners from Korea I believe, and he said that they "ruined" the pants he dropped off, which they didn't, and he tried to sue them for a few mil I believe. The whole thing was just stupid.

I know /my/ pants aren't worth millions.

Though what is in them is.

[Homicidalheathen]

I sorta remember something about a law being changed 10 yrs or so ago that makes it ok to vid in public and since there are cameras everywhere now even on the freeway.....who can stop it?

Cohan is no more of an ass than Johnny Knoxville....its a cheap way to make a good movie.

He did Ali G and now Boret...I think he is just getting started creating his many persona's and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

If you were the embodiment of either of those languages and you had rights to the identity (you aren't).

Cohen fucked over a lot of people to make his probably quite stupid movie. He seems to be an asshole. He should be held to his contracts and charged the going rate for using someone's image without his consent. That's a serious infringement of privacy and it doesn't matter whether the guy suing is a "businessman" or just trying to make a buck. Do you guys want someone with a camera on you at City Club making out with some sleazeball on the couch, or smoking cigarettes even though you tell your mom that you quit, and showing that image on the silver screen without your consent? If you don't, doesn't everyone else deserve that right to privacy?

[Head Wreck]

cohan took a cheap shot.

he made a film that confirms everyones suspicions of americans.

sorry, but as a nation you have a really bad rep.

what amused me is some american website after a celeb had a racist rant listed cohen because of borat's fear of jews.

FYI Cohen is jewish.

the irony

[Vater Araignee]

The law has not changed where profit is concerned.

I cant fault the guy for running away, if it was me the movie would not have been finished because Cohen would have been beaten into a bloody pulp. Don't chase me and I wont attack. I would get away with it legally too, well I would have a short stay in an institution. I have a psychiatrist to back my phobias and several medical doctors would testify that I won't even allow them to take my pulse without gloves on. The only time I can get over it is when I have a good buzz on.

I hope the guy wins because if I have to beg and plead with people to sign model release forms then Cohen should have to also.