When TMZ.com posted a clip of a supposed Verne "Mini Me" Troyer sex tape last Wednesday, his attorneys quickly lashed out and got a federal judge to issue an injunction against Harvey Levin's gossip site two days later, forcing TMZ to remove the tape, which Troyer says was "stolen" from his house. Except, um, TMZ has the item back online. How come?

We hear another judge just lifted the injunction, and TMZ quickly re-posted the original item. So maybe all the gossip blogs can do the same thing! (We're not lawyers, though.)

On its own site on Friday, TMZ relayed news of the legal action, which included Troyer filing a $20 million lawsuit against TMZ for violating his privacy, misappropriating his name and likeness, and infringing copyright (you know, in case he wants to profit from its sale). Reported, um, TMZ: "Calls to TMZ were not returned."

Update: Here's why: "Troyer's ex-girlfriend, Ranae Shrider, signed a declaration filed in federal court in Los Angeles stating the tape was created with her video camera. Her statement prompted a judge to allow TMZ to reinstate a post featuring snippets of the tape."

Verne Troyer is now a mini litigant in a a $20 million lawsuit filed yesterday afternoon against TMZ, the often stupid but rarely wrong gossip site he claims violated his rights by publishing and airing portions of his sex tape.

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