Star sues to set record straight
SHOPKEEPERS are still selling software showing nude 'pictures' of Vivian Chow Wai-man, despite High Court action taken by the Canto-pop star.
Chow filed a writ claiming damages from the Easyfinder magazine after it published the mock-up pictures taken from floppy diskettes.
Several outlets in Mongkok, Tsuen Wan and Shamshuipo said they would not sell the disks, which show Chow's head superimposed on the body of a Japanese model, both clothed and in various states of undress, as they wanted to 'avoid trouble'. However the Sunday Morning Post found three shops that were selling the software and doing brisk business, offering the sets of six disks at $30 to $35. One shopkeeper said he had run out but expected more stock soon.
Chow told the Sunday Morning Post : 'I am very disappointed in certain media that have been sensationalising this issue and I think it is damaging because it may affect young people who have seen the article and will then go out and try to find the diskettes.
'It is intentionally misleading the public and the lawyers are now handling the case.' One customer, who identified himself only as 'Jacky', said the reproduction techniques were very poor and he regretted spending $30 on the disks, which he bought from a shop in Mongkok's Sino Centre.
Another Canto-pop star, Charlie Young Choi-nei, is rumoured to be the next victim and she has already taken pre-emptive measures in case the magazine attempts to publish them.
'I feel I'm quite lucky, because I'm not the first victim. They [producers of the illicit disks] now know we artists will not just sit aside and keep silent to let them do whatever they like,' Young said.
A spokesman for the Performing Artists Guild said that the association would protect its members and take appropriate action but declined further comment.
Chow is currently suing Easyfinder magazine, seeking unspecified damages for 'libel and malicious falsehood', and has been granted an injunction prohibiting the reprinting or distribution of accompanying pictures and article.
