Julie Gayet wins privacy case against Closer magazine

Julie Gayet has won a privacy case over a photo published by Closer magazine during its coverage of her alleged affair with President Francois Hollande.

The photo shows actress Julie Gayet sitting inside her car, which under French law is considered to be a private space.

The alleged affair made international headlines after it was revealed by the magazine in January this year.

Closer magazine has already paid damages to the actress for publishing the report.

On September 2, a court in the western Paris suburb of Nanterre handed photographer Laurent Viers a suspended fine of 1,000 euros ($1,300) for taking the photo of the actress sitting at the wheel of the car.

The fine only needs to be paid if the defendant re-offends.

Closer magazine published the picture with the caption: “It’s in her white Citroen that Julie Gayet meets the president.”

The director general of Closer magazine’s publisher, Carmine Perna, and its editor in chief, Laurence Pieau, both received suspended fines of 3,000 euros.

Laurence Pieau had earlier contested the ruling saying that “for me, a car is not a private space”.

However, Julie Gayet’s lawyer described it as an “important ruling”, saying that it was the first time officials from the magazine had been sentenced.

In March, Closer magazine was ordered to pay Julie Gayet 15,000 euros for breach of privacy over the publication of images purporting to show her and Francois Hollande arriving at a Paris flat.

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