Entertainment - AP


Prince Countersues in Privacy Fight



MINNEAPOLIS - Prince is denying allegations that he instructed his bodyguard to assault a college student who took the musician's photo at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.


Prince filed a counterclaim Monday in Hennepin County District Court, alleging the student invaded his privacy and violated trademark and copyright law.


Anthony Fitzgerald of Edina sued Prince and his bodyguard in April for damages of at least $50,000. Fitzgerald claims he was assaulted at the airport Dec. 29 and that his new digital camera was confiscated when he took a photo of Prince as the rock star was getting off a plane.


Prince's countersuit also seeks at least $50,000 in damages.


"His (Fitzgerald's) claim has no legal basis and we will be fighting this in court," said Prince's lawyer, Kristen Naros.


Fitzgerald's attorney, Kari Berman, also called Prince's counterclaim baseless.


"He is a public figure walking through a public airport. There's no expectation of privacy, and he knows it," Berman said.

Oh good God! Leave the kid alone!

Prince -- I love you, but quit being such a fucking asshole. It's a picture, for CHRIST FUCKING SAKE. Touch base back on planet earth.

Why be such a dick?
You are one of the biggest stars in the world, people are going to take your picture when you are out in public - that just comes with the territory. To respond by stealing the camera is just offensive.

Does this mean that Prince or any other star can sue any Paparrazzi photographer just for taking their picture? Puhllleaase

Buy the kid a new camera, give him some free concert tickets and generate some PR brownie points.

"violated trademark and copyright law."

again....what law is that exactly ?

he's using exactly the same legal reason as he's LOST arguments before. There is nothing illegal about taking photo's of someone.

Do you reckon it's really Prince with this over inflated opinion of the law or his legal advisors making an easy buck out of him ?

this shit sounds like the people's court now....

bananacologne said:

omg....that'd be even better. she'd tear prince a new one.

"mr. nelson, stop being so stupid!!! your counterclaim is dismissed..."

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

"HULK SMAAASH!!"

Case thrown out of court - literally!

Supernova said:

Oh shussh u - we're just havin' fun here, live a little.

Have a coke and a smile!

bananacologne said:

a little 5-foot mini-hulk!

I wouldn't like people to take pics of me if I was famous.

The "victim" sued: it's ok
the star countersue: it ain't no more.....

Anyway this stuff ain't worth making such a fuss....
[This message was edited Tue Jun 15 12:42:25 2004 by klaatu]

I think I should get to sue both of them, since this story being repeated ad naseum has truly made me sick!!

JediMaster said:

Your post has offended me - u will be hearing from my lawyers in due course 4 causing emotional distress.

bananacologne said:

Eh? I'm smiling even when I may not use an emoticon. Me

I wasn't talking about the pics you were posting, I was talking about the first few reactions/posts in the thread. I got no beef with making fun of this stuff, or even taking a side really. I'm just trying to inject some hold on, lets see what happens calmness into the proceedings.

Supernova said:

Come on, a twenty-some year old kid takes a picture of a celebrity at an airport, and the guy's bodyguard takes the kid's camera? It wasn't Paisley Park, it wasn't a concert arena. It wasn't speeding paparazzi endangering his life. Prince can't always have his way. If he doesn't want his trademark violated, he can put up his hand and block the view, a la Sean Penn, and every other celebrity that deals with this shit every day. Seriously, I'm a major Prince lover and defender, but this situation is ridiculous to begin with, and a countersuit even moreso. So I may not know all of the facts, but I know enough to make an assessment that is more than a knee jerk reaction.

madartista said:

Well I'm in complete agreement with you that the situation is ridiculous, but since I don't know exactly everything that went on I'm not gonna venture to guess or debate what I don't know.

Supernova said:

That's cool. I respect your choice.

Unfortunately for celebrities, when they seek a public life, part of what they give away is a certain degree of privacy. When your livelihood is dependent upon the public, the public is gonna be interested in you.

yogiyb said:

How to go from Fan to Non-Fan in less than 3 seconds.

One should ask before they take a picture of someone. I don't really care either way. I wouldn't take a picture, cuz I know better and I want my camera to stay intact.

Well, folks, look out. Just like with the concert CD giveaway issue, Prince will find a way to work the system for this, and DESERVEDLY SO! I have never understood why paparazzi think they have the right to take your picture without their permission. Let this be a lesson. Maybe if it hits this guy in the pocketbook hard enough, he'll think twice about his actions next time.

poetbear68 said:

you know this was a twenty-something college kid with his personal camera, not paparazzo?

madartista said:

If this is a case of nothing more than Prince thinking his privacy was invaded by somebody trying to do nothing more (if it was nothing more) than take a picture then it's Prince bitch-slapping time.

poetbear68 said:

t'aint that easy, man. this isn't a case of paparazzi...it was just a boy snappin a picture. the cat didn't know all that better probably, but yet n'still he did it. it happens.

just about the only lesson both parties can learn outta this is just simply don't be so stupid.

Prince will lose. It's very difficult for public figures to win privacy lawsuits. And this one is just ridiculous. It's embarrassing to defend Prince on this one...people will just continue to believe that he's a conceited prick and a weirdo...

Prince, I love ya like an older brother, but DAYUM!

Stop this nonsense and give the kid his camera back.

APPOLONIA ( Madartista) wouldn't approve.

Supernova said:

you left out the somewhat significant part of Prince's bodyguard "confiscating" the camera. in my opinion, that gives considerable ammunition to the deservedness of said bitch-slapping.

Revolution said:

I'm going to contact APOLLONIA about a class action suit against all these yahoos who can't spell her name!!!!!