NEWSMAKERS
NEWSMAKERS
Tarantino sues website over leaked script
LOS ANGELES
Quentin Tarantino sued the news and gossip website Gawker on Monday over a post that directed readers to a leaked copy of the Oscar-winning screenwriter’s latest movie.
Tarantino’s lawsuit accuses Gawker Media LLC of copyright infringement for posting a link to the 146-page script for a planned film titled “The Hateful Eight” last week. A link to the script was posted on Gawker’s Defamer blog and remained active Monday afternoon, despite demands from Tarantino’s lawyers to take it down, the lawsuit states.
“There was nothing newsworthy or journalistic about Gawker Media facilitating and encouraging the public’s violation of [Tarantino’s] copyright in the Screenplay, and it’s conduct will not shield Gawker Media from liability for their unlawful activity,” the lawsuit states.
An email sent to Gawker seeking comment was not immediately returned.
Ex-Marlboro man dies
LOS ANGELES
Eric Lawson, who portrayed the rugged Marlboro man in cigarette ads during the late 1970s, has died. He was 72.
Lawson died Jan. 10 at his home in San Luis Obispo of respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, his wife, Susan Lawson said Sunday.
Lawson was an actor with bit parts on such TV shows as “Baretta” and “The Streets of San Francisco” when he was hired to appear in print Marlboro ads from 1978 to 1981. His other credits include “Charlie’s Angels,” “Dynasty” and “Baywatch.” His wife said injuries sustained on the set of a Western film ended his career in 1997.
A smoker since age 14, Lawson later appeared in an anti-smoking commercial that parodied the Marlboro man and an “Entertainment Tonight” segment to discuss the negative effects of smoking. Susan said her husband was proud of the interview, even though he was smoking at the time and continued the habit until he was diagnosed with COPD.
Associated Press