K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup - November 2024 #3

Sports:

BASEBALL & SOFTBALL

• A commercial affiliate of the Major League Baseball Players Association settled a lawsuit with FanDuel on Friday over the alleged unauthorized use of the names and images of MLB players on its sports betting platform. MLBPA, FanDuel settle lawsuit over alleged improper use of name, image and likeness – AP
• A hall-of-fame softball coach and former employee of Rawlings Sporting Goods said in a Washington state lawsuit that the company is illegally trying to block him from working for a rival by threatening to sue him under New Hampshire state law. Rawlings Can’t Block Softball Coach From New Job, Suit Says – Law360

NBA

• Writer and director Rob Grabow is suing LeBron James, along with his production company, for allegedly stealing one of his scripts. According to TMZ Sports, Grabow claims James, The SpringHill Company and Netflix used his script to make the 2024 movie “Rez Ball.” Screenwriter suing LeBron James, Netflix for allegedly stealing concept behind ‘Rez Ball’ film – CBS Sports

NFL

• A former NFL linebacker was arrested on Thursday and charged with assaulting law enforcement during the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, according to court records. A former NFL linebacker is charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack – CNN

NCAA

• The NCAA sheriff handed down some law at Southern California on Wednesday, and the next three weeks just got vitally important for coach Lincoln Riley. NCAA sanctions give Southern California ammunition to fire Lincoln Riley and escape contract – USA Today

Entertainment:

MUSIC

• The rock duo White Stripes voluntarily dismissed their lawsuit against President-elect Donald Trump over the song “Seven Nation Army” played in the background of a campaign ad. The White Stripes drop lawsuit against Trump campaign for unauthorised Seven Nation Army use | The White Stripes | The Guardian
• Rapper Kanye West, known as Ye, impermissibly “riddled” a new song with unlicensed samples from a 1994 song, a Tennessee federal lawsuit said. Kanye West Lawsuit: ‘Vultures 1’ Sample Sparks Copyright Claims

FILM & TELEVISION

• The Walt Disney Co. and subsidiaries like Hulu and ESPN have been hit with a federal lawsuit claiming that the entertainment giant’s various streaming services infringe a series of media patents owned by Adeia Technologies Inc. Disney sued by Adeia over Hulu, ESPN streaming technology | Reuters
• The owner of the 2015 film Eden sued Showtime, Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. and the makers of the TV series Yellowjackets in California federal court on Thursday, alleging that the hit show ripped off the film, which chronicles the tribulations of soccer players who resort to cannibalism after their plane crashes in the wilderness. ‘Yellowjackets’ accused of copying 2015 film ‘Eden’ in lawsuit
• Netflix‘s 2024 film Rez Ball copied “a striking and substantial amount” of a movie written by a Montana-based filmmaker and screenwriter, according to a federal copyright lawsuit. Netflix’s ‘Rez Ball’ Sparks Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
• A composer who created the title song and musical cues for the hit TV series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills accused Amazon Studios LLC of playing his copyrighted music without the appropriate licenses, according to a federal lawsuit. ‘Real Housewives’ Music Composer Hits Amazon With Copyright Suit
• A MA judge cut a playwright’s tortious interference and breach of fiduciary duty claims from a lawsuit against the 95-year-old widow of Sophie’s Choice author William Styron. ‘Sophie’s Choice’ Theater Rights Case Trimmed – Law360
• A producer behind the Netflix reality show Love Is Blind has asked the TX Supreme Court to send a former contestant’s sexual assault suit to arbitration, arguing that her allegations do not apply to a federal act that invalidates arbitration agreements victims enter into before allegations are made. ‘Love Is Blind’ Producer Urges Arbitration For Assault Case – Law360

MEANWHILE, IN HOLLYWOOD…

• Sean “Diddy” Combs again asked a NY federal court to release him ahead of his trial, suggesting an updated, “far more robust” $50 million bail package the same day the court rejected the hip-hop mogul’s push for a gag order forbidding his sexual assault accusers from speaking out. Diddy jail behavior alleged, under scrutiny in new docs
• Ye has been hit with yet another employee lawsuit, this time from a former project manager alleging he was subjected to daily antisemitic tirades, forced to listen to the rapper have sex, and ultimately fired for refusing to start construction on a new Donda Academy building without permits. Kanye West sued by ex-employee for ‘antisemitic tirades’ at work