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Copyright Copyright Litigation Celebrities

A Copyright is an exclusive legal right granted to the creator of an original work to license, copy, sell, distribute, or otherwise exploit the work for his or her own benefit.
Weintraub Tobin

(Podcast) The Briefing: The Ninth Circuit Puts the Brakes on Eleanor’s Copyright Claim

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Can a car be a copyrightable character? In Carroll Shelby Licensing v. Halicki, the Ninth Circuit said no — ruling that “Eleanor,” the iconic Mustang from ‘Gone in 60 Seconds,’ lacks the distinctiveness and consistency...more

Farella Braun + Martel LLP

The Distinct Concepts of Copyright and Right of Publicity In Photos

A recent lawsuit filed by photographer Jackson Lee against MediaNews Group illustrates the important distinction between copyright and the right of publicity. Lee claims the publisher used his photos of Beyoncé, Jennifer...more

Kaufman & Canoles

K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup - June 2025 #3

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A former University of Michigan assistant football coach accused of hacking the personal information and intimate photos of thousands of students has asked a Michigan federal judge to set aside a default entry against him,...more

McDermott Will & Schulte

Plausibly Alleging Access Requires More Than Social Media Visibility

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court’s dismissal of a copyright action, finding that the plaintiff failed to plausibly allege either that the defendant had “access” to the work in question...more

Loeb & Loeb LLP

Woodland v. Hill

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Ninth Circuit affirms dismissal of copyright infringement claim against musician Lil Nas X, finding that mere availability of plaintiff influencer’s photographs on Instagram does not amount to access to those photographs and...more

Kaufman & Canoles

K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup - May 2025 #3

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French cinema icon Gérard Depardieu was convicted of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in Paris in 2021 and handed an 18-month suspended sentence....more

Loeb & Loeb LLP

Sound and Color, LLC v. Samuel Smith

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Ninth Circuit reverses summary judgment in favor of pop singer Sam Smith in music copyright dispute, holding in unpublished opinion that hook in plaintiff’s song may be protectable as unique selection and arrangement of...more

Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP

Ninth Circuit Revives Copyright Suit Over Sam Smith’s “Dancing with a Stranger” and Reaffirms the Jury’s Role

On April 29, 2025, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals revived the copyright infringement case filed by Sound and Color, LLC against Sam Smith, Normani, and related parties (collectively, “Defendants”) concerning the hit song...more

Kaufman & Canoles

K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup - April 2025 #4

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Jack Nicklaus just scored a $1 million win in a New York court, striking back against his former company’s attempt to control his personal brand....more

Kaufman & Canoles

K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup - January 2025 #2

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A North Carolina federal judge on Friday denied NASCAR‘s motion to dismiss a lawsuit lodged by two racing teams that accused the organization of maintaining a monopoly, saying it is too early to determine a dismissal because...more

Kaufman & Canoles

K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup - September 2024 #2

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A woman in Texas filed a new lawsuit last Monday accusing Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault and battery in 2020....more

Weintraub Tobin

The Briefing: No Copyright Protection in Fitness Routines for Celebrity Trainer Tracy Anderson [PODCAST]

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Tracy Anderson, the mastermind behind the Tracy Anderson Method, sued ex-trainer Megan Roup for allegedly stealing her routines and licensing them to Equinox. The US District Court just ruled against Anderson’s copyright...more

Weintraub Tobin

The Briefing: How “Knockoff” Furniture Landed Kim Kardashian in an IP Lawsuit

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How “knockoff” furniture landed Kim Kardashian in an IP lawsuit Kim Kardashian faces a lawsuit from the Donald Judd Foundation for allegedly using and promoting knockoff furniture in her office tour video. While...more

Weintraub Tobin

The Briefing: How “Knockoff” Furniture Landed Kim Kardashian in an IP Lawsuit (Podcast)

Weintraub Tobin on

How “knockoff” furniture landed Kim Kardashian in an IP lawsuit Kim Kardashian faces a lawsuit from the Donald Judd Foundation for allegedly using and promoting knockoff furniture in her office tour video. While...more

Holland & Knight LLP

Fourth Circuit Rules Against News Org's Fair Use of Ted Nugent Photograph

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled on Feb. 6, 2024, that a news organization's use of a photograph of musician Ted Nugent did not constitute fair use, siding with the photographer who argued that the news...more

Arnall Golden Gregory LLP

The Pitch - November 2023

The Pitch newsletter is a monthly update of legal issues and news affecting or related to the music, film and television, fine arts, media, professional athletics, eSports, and gaming industries. The Pitch features a diverse...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

No Laughing Matter: Comedian Sarah Silverman Sues Meta Platforms and OpenAI for Copyright Infringement

Comedian Sarah Silverman and authors Richard Kadrey and Christopher Golden recently filed class-action lawsuits against Meta Platforms (parent company of Facebook) and ChatGPT maker OpenAI (backed by Microsoft Corp.) for...more

Arnall Golden Gregory LLP

The Pitch - March 2023

The Pitch newsletter is a monthly update of legal issues and news affecting or related to the music, film and television, fine arts, media, professional athletics, eSports, and gaming industries. The Pitch features a diverse...more

Arnall Golden Gregory LLP

The Pitch - November 2022

The Pitch newsletter is a monthly update of legal issues and news affecting or related to the music, film and television, fine arts, media, professional athletics, eSports, and gaming industries. The Pitch features a diverse...more

Foster Garvey PC

Sports & Entertainment Spotlight: Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Lingerie Brand is Reportedly on the Verge of a $3 Billion IPO, and...

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This past week, I have realized my place is still on the blogosphere and not in the stands. That time will come. But it’s not now. I love my readers, and I love my supportive family. Without them, none of this is possible....more

Foster Garvey PC

Ongoing Strife Between Studios and Talent Continues as Christopher Nolan Ends Nearly Two-Decade-Long Relationship With Warner...

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- Esteemed filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s decision to leave his 19-year-long relationship with Warner Bros. for Universal to make his next film (about Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of an atomic bomb) continues to...more

Foster Garvey PC

As Streaming Continues to Surge, More Backend Compensation Disputes Between Talent and Studios Likely to Follow

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- Beyoncé’s announcement of building a hemp farm (together with a honey farm) brings the perceived health benefits of CBD even further into the mainstream. Could this momentum ultimately lead to positive conversations around...more

Foster Garvey PC

Sports & Entertainment Spotlight: The Steady Evolution of Athlete Endorsement and Sponsorship Markets and the Latest Household...

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Some of this week's highlights include: - Emerging trends are showing signs of change in the sponsorships and endorsement markets. A segment once largely overlooked, athletes in the LGBTQ+ community are finally ringing in...more

Foster Garvey PC

Sports & Entertainment Spotlight - July 2021

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Just months after breathing life into to the "Sports & Entertainment Spotlight," I am (well, my wife is) giving birth to a new creation — a baby boy. As such, I will be taking a break from the usual commentary (sleep...more

Foster Garvey PC

Sports & Entertainment Spotlight: Risks of NIL Pitfalls Prove Greater Than ‘NIL’

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Just two weeks into the name, image, and likeness (NIL) era in college sports, and we are already starting to see not only novel and creative partnerships, but also the emergence of legal gray areas and pitfalls for college...more

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