Paris Hilton settles with Hallmark over card with her image and “that’s hot” phrase

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Paris Hilton has settled a 2007 lawsuit against Hallmark for using her image and trademarked “that’s hot” phrase without proper licensing. The birthday card, shown here, featured Paris’ head on a cartoon body on the outside and a cartoon image of her clutching a chihuahua behind bars on the inside. Paris went to jail in June, 2007. She trademarked her “that’s hot” phrase in February of that year, and her suit maintained that Hallmark “wrongfully utilized [her] name and identity and, therefore damaging her rights of privacy and publicity, her exclusive property rights and her personal rights in and to the use of her name and likeness.”

In other words, Hallmark made a card of Paris back when she was actually hot following her high profile jail stint and failed to pay her for it. They finally settled with her for an undisclosed sum. Here’s E! Online’s report:

Call it a hallmark decision for Paris Hilton.

The celebutante has resolved a lawsuit filed against the folks at Hallmark claiming the greeting-card company violated her privacy and publicity rights by using likeness and “That’s Hot” signature line without her permission.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed but Hilton had asked for at least $500,000 in damages.

Hallmark had contended the card was a parody protected under the First Amendment and fair-use laws, but that argument was shot down by a federal appeals court, paving the way for a December trial.

And on the bright side for Paris, any news not involving her cocaine bust has to be good, right?

[From E! Online]

I don’t blame Paris for suing Hallmark and this was an infringement on her right to make money by slapping her name on everything from cheap weaves to shoddy clothing. This really reminds me of three years ago when she went to jail and we used to talk about her several times a week. At one point we called a moratorium on Paris, Britney and Lohan stories, calling ourselves LohitneyParis free for the first week of July, 2007. Now we only talk about these fools when they get in serious trouble. Is it any wonder that 2 out of 3 of them have been in jail at this point? Britney may have been involuntarily hospitalized but at least she’s avoided getting a DUI.

Images via The Smoking Gun.

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LAS VEGAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Paris Hilton appears in court at the Clark County Regional Justice Center September 20, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hilton pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors, drug possession and obstructing an officer, as part of a plea deal worked out with prosecutors following her August 27 arrest for cocaine possession on the Las Vegas Strip. As part of the agreement, Hilton will serve a year of probation, pay a USD 2,000 fine, serve 200 hours of community service and must complete a drug abuse program in order to avoid jail time and a felony conviction. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS - SEPTEMBER 20: Paris Hilton appears in court at the Clark County Regional Justice Center September 20, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hilton pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors, drug possession and obstructing an officer, as part of a plea deal worked out with prosecutors following her August 27 arrest for cocaine possession on the Las Vegas Strip. As part of the agreement, Hilton will serve a year of probation, pay a USD 2,000 fine, serve 200 hours of community service and must complete a drug abuse program in order to avoid jail time and a felony conviction. (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images)

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15 Responses to “Paris Hilton settles with Hallmark over card with her image and “that’s hot” phrase”

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  1. Oi says:

    I really really hope there is a Hallmark exec or two somewhere going “yeah, but it was totally worth it.” Because it was.

    But I think the cartoon version of her looks more like Cameron Diaz.

  2. Katija says:

    Hey, she had a right to sue. I hate her like poison and think the cards are adorable, but either way, completely fair lawsuit.

  3. wunderkindt says:

    There’s so much to make fun of with this woman.
    Can’t blame Hallmark for cashing in on Paris’ ‘stupid’.

  4. Isis says:

    Hallmark is always stealing images, ideas, etc. You should read about the Blue Mountain lawsuit.

  5. original kate says:

    i can’t believe that people still buy such lame cards.

  6. Cam says:

    It’s a completely reasonable lawsuit, but please please please, I want that card for my next birthday (psst December 29th).

    @Oi I’m with you, it looks more like Cameron.

  7. Praise St. Angie! says:

    originalkate, I totally agree.

    how many cards do we need that use potty humor?!

    it’s so hard to find a card these days for a man (whether birthday or father’s day) that doesn’t involve some sort of fart joke.

  8. Anj says:

    why does this rich bitch needs lawsuit money anyway? to gain more publicity from lawsuit?….hmmmmmmmmm

  9. Daysma says:

    Umm, did anyone else not notice the, what I’m assuming, is an eyebrow lift on her left eye? She’s always had a wonky left eye. In older pictures it always looks half closed, but in these pictures it’s completely wide open, and her eyebrow is raised in a questioning look, and the other eyebrow is completely normal!! I guess she finally found a way to fix it.

  10. Lita says:

    I’ll say this for paris – when she has a product to promote she really seems to go all out doing it. Except for recently in japan, of course. Heh.

  11. JAM says:

    Daysma, the wonk in her eye seems to come out after what I assumed was a few drinks but is probably a few lines…

  12. Psyren says:

    Even tho she’s not nearly as newsworthy as she used to be I’m still tired of seeing her big square face. Her head looks like a milk jug. I’ll be glad when she goes away for good.

    Know something funny? If you google ‘square face’ a pic of her is the first thing that pops up.

  13. DDD Cups of Justice says:

    Sooooo…does that mean I can’t look forward to Hallmark’s “Sorry I Gave You The Herp?” Paris card?

  14. Nancito says:

    @Psyren is right! I just tried googling “square face” and there Paris was, in all her bug-eyed glory.

  15. Reagan Allender says:

    Years old ya amusing