AceShowbiz -

The legal battle saga starts. Verne Troyer a.k.a. "Mini-Me" has filed a federal lawsuit, worth $20 million, against TMZ for posting the clip of his sex tape on its site and airing it on TMZ TV.

Troyer filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles Thursday, June 26, alleged TMZ violated his rights to privacy and publicity, infringed upon his copyright and trademark and misappropriated his name and likeness. He thus is seeking damages and as well asking an injunction prohibiting the wide spread of the video.

In addition to TMZ, Troyer also sued sex video broker, Kevin Blatt, whom according to the actor acquired the footage, which he insisted to have been stolen from him. Blatt himself as reported by TMZ "is entertaining a $100k offer from SugarDVD" to distribute the footage.

SugarDVD "at press time was touting the newfound existence of a 'full-length 50 minute video of Mini-Me in bed with a hot, young, FULL SIZED sexy woman' on its website", E! Online reports.

TMZ has not yet responded to the lawsuit.

Meanwhile, Troyer's co-star in the sex tape has been identified. The female is his then girlfriend, 22-year-old model Ranae Shrider.