Legal News

Of Copyright & Family Feuds: ?Hedge Fund Wives? Goes to Court

By Dan Slater

Natasha and Tatiana Boncompagni.

The pending publication of a novel called “Hedge Fund Wives” has led to what appears to be the makings of rather nasty court battle between the Boncompagni sisters.

Tatiana Boncompagni Hoover is married to Max Hoover, heir to the vacuum fortune. She’s worked for several news publications, including The Wall Street Journal and the American Lawyer, and last year she published her first novel, “Gilding Lilly” (HarperCollins). Natasha Boncompagni, according to this copyright suit, filed today by Tatiana, lives in Wisconsin with her parents and grandmother. An online bio says Natasha is a Wall Street veteran whose career began in UBS’ investment bank. Attempts to reach Natasha were not successful.

According to her lawsuit, around the time Tatiana began writing “Hedge Fund Wives” last year her sister “offered research assistance and to share her own past experiences in the financial industry for a $500 fee.” Though Tatiana declined, Natasha “occasionally provided ideas relating” to the book.

Then, in September, things turned sour. Tatiana alleges that Natasha surreptitiously copied portions of the book during trips to Tatiana’s New York home. Tatiana also claims that Natasha filed for a joint copyright by allegedly providing the Copyright Office with a version of the book that she’d downloaded from Tatiana’s computer. Then, earlier this month, Natasha allegedly referred to “Hedge Fund Wives” as “our book.” After that she began sending letters to HarperCollins people allegedly threatening to publish the book on the Web if they didn’t respond. On Thursday, Natasha allegedly removed the portion of the manuscript she’d allegedly published on www.hedgefundwives.com and www.hedgefundwives.net. Natasha remains in custody of the “purloined versions” of the book, according to the complaint.

For those interested in Tatiana’s rise from Minnesota’s Edina High School to Manhattan’s social elite — a journey that may strike native Minnesotans as pre-destined — click here for a recent Q&A with the Minneapolis StarTribune.

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on October 27, 2008 (boomark / email).