Roman Polanski sue French media for taking his snap

London (ANI): Filmmaker Roman Polanski is taking legal action against French media for invasion of privacy. The scandalous director, who''s under house arrest, was snapped standing at a window, his face narrowly visible between the curtains and the pictures were published in French paper. The paper said it was a legitimate depiction of the director''s life under house arrest in his Swiss Alpine chalet.

However, the Chinatown director's lawyers claim that this and many others invaded his privacy and that of his family. The filmmaker and his wife are suing four French publications, two newspapers and two magazines, for a total of about 150,000 euros. In a hearing today, lawyer Marion Gregoire said the suits were an attempt "to put an urgent stop" to a media frenzy that has intensified since a 1977 sex case against Polanski was revived, reports the Guardian.

Several photographs depict his children, Elvis and Morgane – who, as minors, are especially protected by French media law. Gregoire has also asked for 10,000 euros damages from Le Journal du Dimanche for the image of Polanski at his window. The lawyers have also asked for 10,000 euros in damages from Voici magazine for a shot of the director''s wife, actress-singer Emmanuelle Seigner, walking in a Swiss street, and 55,000 euros from VSD magazine for photographs of their children at an airport.

Decisions are expected on 19 January. A ruling on a suit, against Le Parisien newspaper, is due on Friday. Polanski, arrested on a U.S. warrant, spent more than 60 days in detention in a Swiss jail before being transferred to house arrest in his Swiss vacation home on Dec. 4.