Kathy Griffin sues website owner

US comedienne Kathy Griffin has filed a lawsuit against a website which she believes is using her name and image to make money.

The KathyGriffin.com domain was allegedly offered to the star in July for the price of £1,940, but she refused to pay and is now taking the owners to court.

According to the suit, which was filed at Los Angeles' Superior Court on September 16, the harm done to Griffin by the site is "direct and palpable".

"When consumers encounter defendants' unauthorised website, they are likely to be confused into believing that plaintiff authorises, sponsors or somehow is affiliated with the domain name, the defendants and with their website, which is not the case," the lawsuit claims.

"Defendants are also trading on plaintiff's good reputation and recognisable name for a commercial purpose, converting the potential economic value in plaintiff's identity to their advantage and reaping the uncompensated benefit from the unauthorised use of plaintiff's name and identity."