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In order to understand why drama seems to surround Socialite Kim Kardashian, you have to understand the history. Kim, was 23 when she dated actor/singer Ray J for about three years. She was a fashion retailer who co-owned the clothing store “Dash” with her two sisters. Ray J was an actor playing the role of Dorian Long on the TV show “Moesha,” starring his older sister, actress/singer Brandy. During that same time, Ray J, then 24, was working on his 3rd album.

During a romantic getaway, Kim and Ray J decided to record their romance in & out of the bedroom. After their relationship ended, no one thought twice about the private tape. That is until Kim Kardashian, who attended Hollywood events with her best friend Paris Hilton, began being featured by the entertainment and gossip press. Paris made headlines with her own sex tape.

Suddenly the private sex tape from years before was valuable and someone was trying to sell it. Some speculated that Ray J, in an effort to boost his singing career, was behind the sale, but that was never proven. Vivid Entertainment, the world’s leading adult film studio, said it paid $1-million to acquire the rights to the Kim Kardashian/Ray J sex tape. The company titled the DVD “Kim Kardashian Superstar” and released it in 2007.

Fast-forward to 2011, Kim Kardashian has become an international celebrity and a multi-millionaire since the release of the tape, while Ray J’s career has been lackluster. Weeks before her celebrity wedding in August, an unidentified person inquired about buying the rights to the Kim Kardashian sex tape from Vivid Entertainment … claiming they’re willing to pay to “completely remove it from the market.”

Reportedly, the mystery buyer has hired a lawyer in Tennessee — who sent a letter to Vivid Entertainment which read, “I was approached by a private party who has asked us about looking into the possibility of acquiring all rights of the Vivid, ‘Kim Kardashian Sex Tape.'”

The lawyer adds, “The party we represent does not intend to distribute or broadcast the ‘tape,’ but hopes to completely remove it from the market. The buyer also wants to purchase all of the raw, unused footage (sex tape outtakes) that never made it to the DVD.”

The lawyer never identified his client — but leaves a giant hint … writing, “We would purchase any other footage you may have control of that involves Ms. Kardashian.” Thanks to Kim’s popularity, Vivid says the sex tape is now worth $30 million.

Sources close to Kim won’t say whether she is the mystery buyer … but did reveal that Kim has previously shown interest in buying the rights to the tape.

But there is a new wrinkle.

It seems a feud is ready to erupt over ownership of the rights to the video.

Kim’s former boyfriend, actor/singer Ray J, who also appears on the sex tape, can block the ‘mystery buyer’ who is trying to purchase the video that shot her to fame.

His lawyer sent a letter to Vivid Entertainment’s co-chairman Steve Hirsch making it clear that Ray J has partial copyright ownership of the video. The letter reads: “Any attempts to transfer the copyright outside of these parameters will result in filing a motion with the courts to see an injunction of any sale until Ray J’s rights are protected.”

Which means Ray J wants to get paid!

And if that’s not enough drama, this past Monday, an adult website offered Vivid Entertainment $5 million for the rights to the sex tape, in order to post it online for free. A spokesman for the named website told TMZ it “respectfully disagrees with Vivid’s inflated value of $30 million for the tape.”

It has been said that Ray J has already financially benefited from prior sales of the tape, which has reportedly made millions, although his lawyer’s letter says it’s caused him nothing but pain.

“My client rarely has a conversation with industry professionals where the sex tape has not been mentioned or questioned,” he wrote.

He added: “No amount of money can relieve him from this nightmare.”

So let’s recap… Kim and Ray J made a private sex tape years ago. The tape got out – making Kim rich and famous. Now that she’s married and a multi-millionaire, Kim wants to get the tape off the market. An unknown buyer makes an offer to purchase the tape from the current owner. But, an adult website also makes an offer to buy the rights to the tape. And standing “in the wings” is Ray J, who looks like an opportunist for wanting “a cut” of the profits made from the sale.

Whew!

Confused? Me too.