Kid Rock Sues to Stop Sale of Sex Video
Kid Rock has won an initial victory in his attempt to stop a California
company from releasing an explicit sex video featuring the rap-rocker,
former Creed singer Scott Stapp and four women.
U.S. District Court Judge John Feikens signed a temporary order that stops
David Joseph and his World Wide Red Light District company from posting a
preview clip of the video on its Web sites.
On Tuesday, Kid Rock's lawyers sued Red Light, which made headlines in 2004
by distributing the Paris Hilton sex video, accusing the firm of violating
Kid Rock's trademark and privacy rights. The lawsuit seeks a permanent court
order halting sale or distribution of the video.
"We don't deny the authenticity of the tape," Kid Rock's lawyer, William
Horton, told the Detroit Free Press. "But they're using this without his
permission to drive the sales of their other products."
"Even rock stars are entitled to privacy," said co-counsel Michael Novak.
The temporary order covers only a 40-second preview. The order remains in
effect until a court hearing Friday, even though the company removed it from
the Internet last week after receiving a cease-and-desist order from Stapp's
lawyers.
Red Light lawyer Ray Tamaddon said he couldn't comment on the lawsuit
because he hadn't seen it. But he said the company is confident that it is
within its legal rights.
"These are public figures, and the standards are different," he said.
In an affidavit filed with the lawsuit, Kid Rock, who was born Robert
Ritchie, said the video was shot in 1999 near Miami. At the time, Stapp was
the lead singer of Creed.
Kid Rock said in the lawsuit filing that it was clearly understood that the
video would remain Stapp's private property and would not be displayed
publicly.
Joseph has said previously that he got the tape from a third party. It
involved women from a strip club and was taken in a motor home, he said.