Blogger Perez Hilton Fires Back Over Agency Lawsuit

“X17’s motives for filing a lawsuit against Perez are to enforce the law and to protect our copyright.”

“Mr. Lavandeira has regularly infringed on X17’s large scoops. While it usually takes weeks of effort by a team of photographers and reporters to break a story, for Mr. Lavandeira, it has been as simple as a right-click,” the agency said in a release.

Seven other press and photo agencies are considering filing suit too.

Hitting the red carpet for the VH1 Big In 2006 show where he was presenting an award Saturday night, the web-slinger told Access Hollywood he is ready for his day in court.

“I am presenting the Outlaw Award and I am an outlaw,” he laughed. “And I’m looking forward to defending myself and my rights and freedoms vigorously.”

Hilton rose to fame posting celebrity gossip and editorials on stars including Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Tara Reid and Lance Bass. In addition to the lawsuit, Perez received heat earlier this year for his role in helping out Bass as a gay man, by chronicling the singer’s frequent outings with former model and reality TV star Reichen Lehmkuhl.

“I think if you are a celebrity or a politician then it’s fair game,” he said of writing about the relationship between the two men. “I do think people have a right to privacy if you are a private citizen but US Weekly reported on the secret relationship of Jessica Simpson and John Mayer and I did report on the secret relationship between Lance Bass and Reichen and Lance is gonna be here tonight and hopefully we’ll hug it out.”

In fact, the former *Nsync star and Perez were later caught hugging for the cameras, on VH1s red carpet.

As for his trouble with the legal filings, Perez said one change that might result from the filing might be relocating from The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf on Sunset Boulevard, where he produces his website from.

“I may have to go find a new office,” he said. One place he won’t be moving to is his parental home. “My mom doesn’t even read my Web site,” he said. “She doesn’t even own a computer or have an email address.”