HOLLYWOOD -- To paraphrase a certain Oscar-winning song, it's hard out here for a pap.

We're referring, of course, to the hapless paparazzi, who, between Keanu Reeves and Matthew McConaughey, are having a rough week.

On Monday, a Los Angeles jury cleared Keanu Reeves of any and all liability for injuries sustained by photographer Alison Silva in a civil trial.

The shutterbug was seeking over $700,000 in damages relating to an incident that took place back in March, 2007 while he was attempting to snap a picture of Reeves in his Porsche.

Silva claimed Reeves ran him down, seriously injuring his wrist, while Keanu had testified that the man had stumbled and fallen while walking backwards.

The jurors ended up siding with Neo, especially after viewing video footage of Silva scaling a wire fence with his allegedly injured mitt while trying to take a shot of Britney Spears.

Meanwhile, over in another L.A. courtroom, a pair of surfer dudes charged with misdemeanour battery pled not guilty to attacking a paparazzo who was attempting to catch McConaughey catching a wave in Malibu.

The photographer, one Richid Altmbareckouhammou (try squeezing that into a tiny little photo credit), claimed the two surfers tossed him and his camera into the Pacific last June when he failed to refrain from snapping Matthew.

A pre-trial hearing is set for Jan. 14, but, in the meantime, that Malibu melee made enough waves of its own to prompt city officials to investigate potential new laws that would require paps to keep their distance.

Matthew and Keanu aside, there has been a surge in paparazzi-related altercations in recent weeks.

Last month, for example, Gerard Butler, the tough-guy star of 300 and Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla, apparently pummelled a pesky pap who had tailed him upon leaving a Los Angeles club.

According to police, the alleged victim filed a misdemeanour battery report against Butler, but there hasn't been word of an upcoming court date.

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