Mar 16, 2010 – (Los Angeles, CA) – In an effort to claim her image from an unscrupulous photographer, well-known pin-up model Denise Milani has retained Beitchman & Zekian, PC to file a Complaint in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Denise’s complaint alleges that Matt Vantuch, glamour photographer, Ishka Villcisneros, and their company Periscope Entertainment, Inc. have taken over her website and webstore, as well as her MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter accounts.
“This is distressing to me for many reasons, but most importantly it is because the fans are buying merchandise and subscriptions to a website that I do not contribute to,” said Ms. Milani on Friday. “It is upsetting to know that someone else is out there pretending to be me and benefiting from my hard work and image.”
Her attorney David P. Beitchman has litigated a number of cases similar to Milani’s. He stated, “Unfortunately, this happens to a lot of models who create a stage name and persona and begin to get popular. As soon as this happens, these dishonest people convince the models to sign this contract and that document, with promises of increased popularity and income. But, in fact these folks are stealing their identity as a performer and model and benefiting from it. The girls don’t find out until it is too late and their entire persona has been taken from them.”
Ms. Milani has stated that this practice is common and the number of models and performers who have lost their websites, names, and content to people like Vantuch is far larger than anyone can imagine. “I can only hope that by fighting the takeover of my site and profiles and name, I am helping the next girl out there to do the same and reclaim her image.”
For more information please contact Beitchman & Zekian, PC at (818) 986-9100 or info@bzlegal.com
