My take is that Perez is as exposed as Spears, Lohan, and Hilton. His exposure, though, carries significant legal consequences.

Love perez not for the pictues but for his commentary and gossip. Love to hear who is sleeping with who and who is gay in Hollywood. Used to frequent x17 for pictures but after hearing that they are suing him I’m never going there again. They are just trying to get publicity so their website gets more hits well I hope it backfries and they loose fans for attacking our favorite blogger.

John’s right. Of course, it’s pretty stupid to carry photos with someone’s copyright info emblazoned all over it.

Still, most celebrity blogs, including this one, are likely in violation of copyright rules at least occasionally. Most companies don’t mind bloggers posting a photo or two–especially reduced size or resolution photos–from their work because of the free publicity.

Unless “Perez” has been contacted by these photographers, agencies, etc. and asked to take down the photos, I can’t see how he’s liable for these damages. If you know someone is violating your copyright, you have a duty to mitigate the damage rather than simply letting it happen so that you can collect more. It is ironic, though, that PerezHilton is doing a better job of marketing and monetizing their photographs than they are.

The difference James,… they did ask him to take the photos down; he blatantly refused. (a search on x17online.com would be a good read)

Also, he often posts their photos after removing the owners copyright “tag line”, ultimately passing them off as his own. Bad form!

Instead of being professional, he becomes combative.