Newsmakers

Newsmakers

Lohan files lawsuit over E-Trade ad

MINEOLA, N.Y.

Lindsay Lohan is feuding with the E-Trade babies. The actress has filed a $100 million lawsuit claiming a television ad for the Wall Street firm that aired during the Super Bowl and Olympics was modeled after her.

Talking babies in the ad engage in chatter that refers to “milkaholic Lindsay.” The 23-year-old actress has famously sought substance-abuse treatment. Lohan’s name was never mentioned. But her New York lawyer contends that “Lindsay” is an equally recognizable moniker for her client — such as that of Oprah or Madonna.

Lohan’s legal team is seeking an injunction to stop future airings.

Man convicted of extorting Crawford

BERLIN

A German man has been convicted of blackmailing supermodel Cindy Crawford and has been sentenced to two years in jail.

The court in the southern German town of Kirchheim unter Tech said Tuesday that Edis Kayalar was found guilty of extorting money from Crawford by threatening to release a photo showing Crawford’s then 7-year-old daughter gagged and tied to a chair.

Kayalar turned himself in to German police in November 2009.

The German news agency ddp reports Crawford paid Kayalar $1,000 in 2009 and got a print of the photo. But the man came back asking for more and demanded a total of $100,000.

According to court papers, the girl says a former nanny took the picture as part of a “cops and robbers” game. Court documents say Kayalar stole the photo from the nanny.

Dark side of the Web

LONDON

Pink Floyd has begun legal action against music label EMI Group Ltd. over the way royalty payments are calculated in the digital era.

The group’s lawyer, Robert Howe, told the High Court that the band was disputing the way royalties for online sales are worked out.

He said the group also wants a ruling on whether EMI can sell tracks “unbundled” from their original albums.

Howe said the band’s contract prohibits selling tracks “otherwise than in the original configuration of the Pink Floyd albums.” EMI claims the rule applies only to physical albums, not the Internet.

Pink Floyd signed with EMI in 1967 and became one of its most lucrative acts.

Tuesday’s hearing was the start of what is expected to be a lengthy legal battle.

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.