Pop photo case winner may lose

A High Court battle over an exclusive picture of pregnant pop star Faye Wong is likely to leave the Oriental Sunday out of pocket, even though it won the case.

Mr Justice Anthony Rogers ordered Apple Daily to pay $8,001 damages for publishing the picture, taken last October, which belonged to its rival.

But the judge said the Oriental Sunday should have accepted an earlier offer of compensation from Apple Daily instead of taking the case to court.

He ordered that the costs of the case, believed to be well in excess of the damages, be paid by the Oriental Sunday.

Winnie Tam, for the Oriental Sunday, had argued for damages of $200,000.

The judge ruled Apple Daily had breached copyright but awarded costs in its favour.