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Company Attempts to Topple “House of Cards” with Trademark Lawsuit
Popular Netflix television show, “House of Cards” was sued for trademark infringement this week by Massachusetts company, D2 Holdings. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the company alleges that it owns the trademark for the show’s title, “House of Cards.” D2 Holdings seeks an injunction prohibiting the show from using the phrase, and requiring the show to destroy any materials that bear the mark. Beyond trademark infringement, D2 is suing the show’s distributor, MRC II Distribution Company for unfair competition and dilution. D2’s attorney, William C. Saturley, says that MRC was undeterred by repeated failures to obtain the trademark, which he says […]
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Would the Real Kylie Please Stand Up
When you hear the name “Kylie,” who comes to mind? If it were up to Kylie Jenner, the youngest member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, it would be her. However, when you hear the name “Kylie” your first thought may be Australian pop artist Kylie Minogue. The question of who is “Kylie” is now up to the US Trademark Office. According to the Washington Post, Jenner filed an application with the US Patent and Trademark Office to trademark “Kylie” so that she can further protect (capitalize) her advertising and endorsement deals. Once Minogue caught wind of this, she hired Melbourne-based business, KDB, […]
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All Kanye Press is Good Press – At Least For Tidal
According to an early report by TMZ (http://www.tmz.com/2016/02/23/kanye-west-album-tidal-subscriptions/ ), since Kanye West released his newest album “Life of Pablo” exclusively on Tidal, Jay Z’s “artist-friendly” music streaming service, the number of Tidal subscribers has increased from around 1 million to 2.5 million. According to this same report, the album itself has already been streamed “millions” of times. This report is preliminary, as Tidal has yet to release official numbers, and does not tell us everything we want to know – such as how many of these subscribers have actually paid and how many are merely on a free trial. Yet, however […]
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Let Him Throw Cake!
DJ, record producer, music executive, and notorious cake thrower Steve Aoki is facing legal action for his infamous cake chucking ways. Although he stopped throwing cake at all of his performances after throwing out his arm from hurling so many cakes into crowds, Aoki has continued his cake catapulting antics at his headlining gigs. However, his pastry-throwing days may be numbered. According to MTV, in late February a Las Vegas club owner sustained a head injury after slipping and falling on the remnants of one of Aoki’s thrown cakes and is suing Aoki for damages. Known for his ultra high-energy shows, […]
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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 defendants enabled her stalker to reserve hotel rooms immediately adjacent to hers and thereby photograph her privately undressing through peepholes without her knowledge or consent. Andrews’ attorney states that his client has and continues to suffer from “severe and permanent emotional distress, embarrassment, past and future […]
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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 asserts that the two songs share similar hooks and melodies. The complaint states that, “a substantial part of the drum, conga drum, organ, bass guitar, electric quitter, and saxophone parts of ‘Damn Girl’ were all copied from ‘A New Day is Here at Last.’” Ultimately, the […]
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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 unless he chooses to appoint someone else, with the exception of NFL drug policy violation and illegal on-field hit appeals. For more on Goodell’s role and how it could be changing, view the full story here. Author JSEL
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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 on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition and also made an appearance on the Ellen show in which she candidly admitted to having suicidal thoughts after her devastating loss to Holly Holm last year. If her latest trademark is any indication of her current mental […]
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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 on YouTube increased 370% from 2014 to 2015. Based on this data, the report asserts that artists with a sound recording on YouTube make $100 more, on average, than artists whose music is not on the platform. More interesting is the reason behind this sudden explosion […]
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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 such as Krafterwek and Lana Del Rey sample their tracks to create chart-topping hits. Unfortunately, according to a lawsuit filed by Bambaata and Soulsonic against Rhino Entertainment and Artists Rights Enforcement Corp (AREC), neither group has seen royalty compensation for their Rhino Entertainment releases in 27 […]
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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 through celebrities and has advertised its “swag bag” using the Oscars’ registered trademark with phrases such as “Everyone Wins At The Oscars®! Nominee Gift Bags,” and “Everyone Wins Nominee Gift Bags in Honor of the Oscars®.” However, the Academy does not sponsor, award, provide for, or […]