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The Price of Stalking Erin Andrews: Approximately $75 Million
Television personality Erin Andrews has filed a civil suit against her serial stalker as well as a Nashville hotel, the hotel’s owner, and a management company. The Fox Sports reporter and host of Dancing with the Stars is suing for, inter alia, negligence and invasion of privacy. Seeking $75 million in damages, Andrews argues that the […]
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Timberlake Embroiled in Copyright Lawsuit Over Decade Old Song
Justin Timberlake and Will.i.am are facing a copyright suit over their song “Damn Girl,” released on Timberlake’s 2006 album, “Futuresex/Lovesounds.” Music publisher PK Music Performance Inc. claims that the 10-year-old song copies a 1969 disco track called, “A New Day is Here at Last,” written by Perry Kibble and performed by J.D. Davis. PK Music […]
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NFL Players Association Asks for Neutral Appeals
Roger Goodell’s oft-criticized role in player discipline could be changing. A recent report suggests that the commissioner’s responsibilities in appeals could be altered as per the terms of a new NFL/NFLPA agreement. The Players’ Association would like to see neutral arbitration for all appeals, rather than the current system where Goodell presides over most appeals […]
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Ronda Rousey Files for Unique Trademark
FTA. That is Ronda Rousey’s latest catch phrase for which she filed for a trademark earlier this week. The last trademark “Rowdy Ronda Rousey” (also trademarked) filed for is now the title of an upcoming movie featuring Tina Fey—“Do Nothing B***h.” Rousey has attracted a lot of attention this past week when she was featured […]
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A Reason To Turn Off Ad-Blocker: YouTube Royalty Payments Increase 370%
In the context of music streaming services and fair royalty payments, YouTube commonly emerges in public dialogue as the de facto “worst” of the streaming giants (https://thetrichordist.com/2014/01/16/while-artists-are-bitching-about-spotify-royalties-google-youtube-and-grooveshark-are-in-the-getaway-car/ ). Yet, new findings by TuneCore will likely alter this widespread public perception. According to a new report, the amount of royalties paid to artists with sound recordings […]
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Hip-Hop Legends Afrika Bambaata and Soulsonic Fight For Their Copyrights
Hip-hop would not be where it is today but for the pivotal roles played by Bronx-based hip-hop legends Afrika Bambaata and Soulsonic Force.They put themselves on the map in the 1980s by releasing iconic tracks such as “Planet Rock,” “Looking for the Beat,” and “Renegade Funk” with record label Rhino Entertainment. Even today, big names […]
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The Official Oscars Swag Bag Isn’t Actually “Official”
#OscarGiftBag is the new viral hashtag spurring controversy this awards season. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has filed suit in a California federal court seeking an injunction and treble profits and damages against the marketing company Distinctive Assets for trademark infringement. Distinctive Assets specializes in promoting products […]
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Texas Decision on Daily Fantasy Sports
Last month Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, declared daily fantasy sports a form of illegal gambling in Texas. With this announcement Paxton joins the increasing number of attorney generals (NY, IL, VT) across the nation that have declared war against popular fantasy sports sites like FanDuel and DraftKings. Paxton claims the daily fantasy leagues are […]
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Even Football Isn’t Immune from Uncle Sam
Millions of Americans tuned in to watch the Denver Broncos emerge victorious over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 and many of those millions also placed bets on the “Big Game.” For all those who won money gambling on the game, the IRS wants its cut of your earnings. The Sixteenth Amendment states that […]
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NFL Partnering with USADA to Investigate Peyton Manning
While Peyton Manning may have played his last game in the NFL last Sunday as he led the Broncos to a win over the Carolina Panthers in the Super Bowl, he has one more obstacle before he cements his legacy and place in the Football Hall of Fame. The NFL has partnered with the U.S. […]
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Batmobile Copyright Case Races Towards Supreme Court
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Mark Towle recently petitioned the Supreme Court following an unfavorable decision from the 9th Circuit regarding his dispute with DC Comics. The dispute involves the iconic crime-fighting vehicle, the “Batmobile,” from the 1960s TV Show and 1989 movie, “Batman.” Until he was sued and enjoined, Towle, a mechanic from California, […]
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Chinese Censorship Laws: Coming Soon To a Theatre Near You
In an extremely savvy and strategic business move, Wang Jianlin, the richest man in China, is set to purchase a controlling share in American movie studio Legendary Entertainment. Valued at $3.5 billion, the buyout has been described as “China’s largest cross-border cultural acquisition to date,” and is intended to expand and strength ties between China, […]