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Invasion of privacy In a recent case, the Tribunal de grande instance of Paris ruled on the publication of photos showing Valérie Trierweiler, the companion of the President of the Republic, in a bathing suit on the beach at Fort Brégançon. The court, ruling in summary proceedings, considered the issue of privacy and the violation of image rights.
The risks of public visibility: assessment of the case of Valérie Trierweiler on the beach of Fort Brégançon:-
The court acknowledged that being photographed on the beach of the official residence of the head of state carries inherent risks. Although the beach itself is not accessible to the public, it is visible from the sea. It has been argued that Valerie Trierweiler, being aware of this, took precautions to identify the areas where she could be seen and plan her movements. to avoid the paparazzi.
Nevertheless, judge Anne-Marie Sauteraud considered that it was not necessary for the legitimate information of the public to represent against her will the companion of the president on the beach of Fort Brégançon. The photos, especially those showing her in a bathing suit, were deemed not trivial and inappropriate since she had never consented to pose in such an outfit in front of the cameras.
Violation of image rights and privacy: legal consequences and compensation: –
Consequently, the court found that the publication of the photos constituted a violation of Valérie Trierweiler’s image rights and privacy. As a result, she was awarded €2,000 in compensation out of the €30,000 claimed. It was pointed out that these incriminating images could no longer be considered a faithful representation of the “normalcy” sought by the presidential couple, as the weekly points out.
This decision reinforces the importance of respecting the privacy of individuals, even in circumstances where they may be visible from public spaces. It recalls that consent and protection of image rights must be respected, in particular for public figures and their companions .
