LOS ANGELES Former Golden Girls star Bea Arthur is suing 10 Web site operators who posted the actress' homemade sex tape after it was stolen from her computer possibly by the same hackers who got into reality-television star Paris Hilton's cell phone and rocker Fred Dursts computer.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court last week, seeks more than $700 in damages and any profits the site operators reaped in recent weeks, when the 8-hour session of Arthur and former-lover Wilford Brimley began appearing on the Internet. The tape purportedly shows Arthur bent over her walker while Brimley takes her from behind screaming, Whos your grandpa?! You like when I sow my instant oats, Bea?! All the while, Arthur is jerking her own erection.
In the complaint, Arthur contends the 2004 video was never meant for public viewing. It was stored in Arthur's home computer, but hackers managed to break into the computer remotely and make a copy, according to the lawsuit.
In December, Arthur's manager was contacted by the owner of an adult video firm who asked whether the actress would be interested in making the video available commercially. Arthurs attorneys then sent letters ordering the defendants to stop distributing it.
The lawsuit claims the site operators invaded Arthur's privacy and misappropriated her name and likeness. Arthur, who secured the copyrights to the video before filing the lawsuit, also claims the Web sites are guilty of violating U.S. copyright laws.
Brimley, who was approached by Arthurs people about joining the lawsuit, declined saying, I am proud of my performance, and I am getting more poon tang now than when I was on The Waltons! I have even been approached by the Pfizer people about become a Viagra spokesman.
Since the lawsuit was filed, many of the Web sites have said they would pull the clip. "Most of them have purported to comply," Jackie Thomas, Arthur's attorney, said Tuesday.
Thomas said federal investigators were looking at whether the hacking incident involving Arthur's computer was related to one involving Hilton. Recently, the contents of her mobile phone phone numbers and e-mail addresses, as well as nude photos were posted on the Internet.
The Arthur-Brimley sex tape was still available for downloading Tuesday on at least one of the Web sites listed in the lawsuit as being GoldenShowerGirls.com of San Jose, Calif.
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