When the Danish tabloid Ekstra Bladet published photos of a topless Penélope Cruz in September 2013, the Spanish actress and model was so incensed that she sued the tabloid and its editor-in-chief, Poul Madsen. 

 

In June 2014, the Copenhagen City Court cleared Ekstra Bladet and Poulsen but the Vanilla Sky star appealed against the decision. 

 

On Monday, the Eastern High Court agreed with the lower court’s ruling, saying that the publishing of the photos, which were taken on a public beach, was not a punishable offence. 

 

The court ordered Cruz to pay Madsen 25,000 kroner ($3,800)  to cover court costs. 

 

“I’m glad that we won. The judgement shows that a well-known foreign celebrity can’t just come into this country and demand compensation. It would constitute a violation of Danish liberal-mindedness and media responsibility,” Madsen told his own paper after the verdict. 

 

Ekstra Bladet has removed the topless photos of Cruz.