ASPEN, Colo.—An Aspen mountaineer who was a guide on a 1996 Mount Everest trip that killed eight climbers is suing two book publishers over his photos from the expedition.
Neil Beidleman is seeking unspecified damages in lawsuits filed last month in U.S. District Court in Denver.
One lawsuit alleged Villard Books, a division of Random House, committed fraudulent concealment and copyright infringement. The other lawsuit accused textbook publisher Holt, Rinehart and Winston of fraud and copyright infringement.
Both suits alleged the publishers used Beidleman’s photographs in more editions of their books than originally promised. Beidleman sought injunctions to prevent the photos from being used further.
An attorney for Villard said the publisher doesn’t comment on pending legal matters. A representative for Holt, Rinehart and Winston did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment Tuesday.
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Information from: The Aspen Times



