Anti-Israel Fanatics Pirate Lucas Entertainment Images: Michael Lucas Asks Group to "Cease and Desist"

NEW YORK, April 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Noted film director, Advocate.com columnist and Israel supporter Michael Lucas is demanding that the political group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid stop using images from his blockbuster series of films shot in Israel on anti-Israeli propaganda.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110413/NY82492)

"I was really amused to see this enigmatic picture from my film Men of Israel on the poster of anti-Israel demonstrators," says Lucas. "I am happy that this series of bestselling movies, including Men of Israel, has made them mad, because it shows Israel just the way it is, a joyous and beautiful safe haven for LGBT people. That is the reality of Israel. Obviously that is not how Queers Against Israeli Apartheid would like to see Israel portrayed."

The signs were carried by protesters during a Gay Pride event in Toronto and used an image from Lucas Entertainment film Men of Israel. The signs used the copyrighted image to wrongly and misguidedly portray Israel as an "apartheid" state.

Lucas' lawyer, David Steinberg, states, "In the view of our client, QUAIA member or members have not only used this image without his permission, [the] group is using it to portray the State of Israel in an absolutely misguided, hateful and perverse manner. In fact, Mr. Lucas is dedicated to fighting against the wrongful demonization of Israel by groups such as QUAIA. Consequently, this unauthorized use of his work is even more offensive."

"This unauthorized use by QUAIA of our client's 'still' image amounts to copyright infringement and a violation of our client's moral rights. We therefore demand that [they] immediately cease and desist from using this image any further as part of [their] negative propaganda campaign against Israel or otherwise. We further demand that [they] put [their] membership on notice to this effect."

For further inquiries or to see the full text of the statement from the attorney, please contact Michael Lucas at [email protected].

SOURCE Michael Lucas