Millionaire Klum sues jobless German

Millionaire model Heidi Klum has felt the scorn of the international media after suing a German man for using a photo of her to advertise a party he was helping a friend to organise.

Heinz Frank had used an image of his compatriot unwittingly and only realised he was in breach of copyrights when he got a phone call from Klum’s lawyers, who demanded US$4,500 ($7,000) for the deed.

While the unemployed man was left bewildered by the ordeal, luckily help was on hand to pay the fees, with unimpressed socialite Jenny Elvers Elbertzhagen covering the court costs.

“He didn’t know it was her, didn’t make any money and I really do not understand why Heidi Klum has got all heated up over such a trifle,” she said.

Indeed, with Forbes estimating Ms Klum’s personal fortune at more than US$10 million, she may be wondering if the paltry sum is worth all the bad publicity.