Germany's Kohl wins record damages for unauthorised quotes

German former chancellor Helmut Kohl attends an unveiling ceremony of bust of German artist Kaethe Kollwitz in Berlin June 26, 2013. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German court ordered publisher Random House and two journalists on Thursday to pay former Chancellor Helmut Kohl record damages of 1 million euros ($1.1 million)for violating his privacy by publishing unauthorized quotes from hours of interviews.

"This is the highest judgment ever rendered for violations of privacy rights under German law," the district court of Cologne said in a statement.