Kim Kardashian & Kanye West To Sue YouTube Founder Over Leaked Proposal Video
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have filed a lawsuit against the co-founder of YouTube. The couple claim Chad Hurley, the co-founder and previous owner of YouTube Google bought the company for $1.65 billion in 2006), was responsible for leaking a video of West's proposal.
The couple claim Hurley is using the video to promote his new online venture MixBit. In the suit, Kardashian and West accuse Hurley of using the video so he could begin his "second act". They further claim that Hurley was not invited to the event where he took the footage but manipulated his way into the stadium. TMZ report that the couple allowed Hurley to stay but only after they witnessed him sign a confidentiality agreement.
The suit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday (31st October). Kardashian and West are seeking unspecified damages from Hurley and his company Avos Systems Inc. according to the Washington Post.
TMZ obtained a copy of the video. The footage is 2 minutes 40 seconds long and shows the moment West went down on to one knee to propose to his girlfriend of 18 months. West proposed to Kardashian last week at San Francisco's AT&T Park. The stadium is in complete darkness, only illuminated with fiery lamps to aid the full orchestra. West proposes and Kardashian can vaguely be seen jumping in the air and covering her mouth in shock.
Watch the leaked video of the proposal:
The stadium is then illuminated and after the couple kiss and embrace, Kardashian's family and friends rush on to the pitch. Kardashian and West are embraced by their relatives and soon-to-be in-laws whilst the orchestra plays. The stadium's scoreboard is lit up with the words "Pleeease Marry Meee!!!"
Kardashian took a photograph of her ring and the illuminated scoreboard. However, the video was taken, and leaked, without her or West's permission. Their argument rests on Hurley breaking the confidentiality agreement and the footage being destined to for Keeping Up with the Kardashians (it was intended for MC Cable Television, an extension of KUWTK's producers). The suit, referring to this point, reads "Hurley is well aware of such contractual restrictions, including not to usurp a person's right to tell a story on his or her own terms, and for his or her own emotional and financial benefit."
The couple were also irritated by the diversion of the spotlight. The stated, in the law suit, "Hurley proceeded to try to turn the event into one starring himself, broadcasting the images he knew were the exclusive property rights of someone else."