Hasta la vista, stickybeaks
Terminator star and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has ushered in a new law to restrain the activities of paparazzi in his state.
The law hits the financial rewards for celebrity snaps by enabling the filing of lawsuits against the publishers of images or recordings obtained by either illegal or violent means.
Jennifer Aniston, who settled for $550,000 in 2003 after a photographer scaled a three-metre wall to capture her sunbathing at her Malibu home, is a sponsor of the law.
According to Ron Williams of Talon Companies, a celeb bodyguard service: "The real aggressive ones will do anything to get a picture that they think will make them a lot of money."
Frank Griffin, co-founder of Bauer-Griffin, said the sums commanded by paparazzi are exaggerated, as is the level of misbehaviour. He said laws were already in place to prevent abusive behaviour and driving infractions. Shooting through bedroom windows for an exclusive photo died 15 years ago, he said. "Nobody will buy it now because you'd get sued."
The new law will apply only to images and recordings captured on California soil, although it could target out-of-state publishers.
