(Podcast) The Briefing: When a TikTok Costs You $150,000 - Copyright Pitfalls in Influencer Marketing
The Briefing: When a TikTok Costs You $150,000 - Copyright Pitfalls in Influencer Marketing
Can Tattoos Be Copyrighted? The Legal Battle Over Mike Tyson's Iconic Ink — No Infringement Intended Podcast
(Podcast) The Briefing: Trademark Mayhem – Lady Gaga Gets Sued for Trademark Infringement
The Briefing: Trademark Mayhem – Lady Gaga Gets Sued for Trademark Infringement
(Podcast) The Briefing: The Future of TV? A 2025 Digital Media Trends Analysis
The Briefing: The Future of TV? A 2025 Digital Media Trends Analysis
The Briefing: Everyone Loves the HBO Series 'White Lotus,' Except Duke University
(Podcast) The Briefing: Everyone Loves the HBO Series 'White Lotus,' Except Duke University
The Briefing: Sequel, Spin-Off, or Something Else? The Legal Battle Over "ER" and "The Pitt"
(Podcast) The Briefing: Sequel, Spin-Off, or Something Else? The Legal Battle Over "ER" and "The Pitt"
(Podcast) The Briefing: ER Redux? The Anti-SLAPP Motion That Didn’t Stick
The Briefing: ER Redux? The Anti-SLAPP Motion That Didn’t Stick
The Briefing: Diana Copeland – “Surviving R. Kelly” But Not Netflix’s Motion to Dismiss
(Podcast) The Briefing: Diana Copeland – “Surviving R. Kelly” But Not Netflix’s Motion to Dismiss
The Briefing: Court Drowns Pepperdine's 'Waves' Trademark Battle Against Netflix
(Podcast) The Briefing: Court Drowns Pepperdine's 'Waves' Trademark Battle Against Netflix
Are Reality TV Contestants Independent Contractors or Employees? From Pods to Paychecks With Love Is Blind — Hiring to Firing Podcast
Season 6 Ep #1 IP State of the Union- Billion Dollar Character Acquisitions- Part 1
Recognizing and Avoiding Trademark Scams and Hoaxes
On May 9, 2025, I sat in a crowded football stadium for the sold-out second night of the Grand National Tour concert featuring Kendrick Lamar and SZA (the stage name of Solána Rowe). As I listened to those iconic artists...more
On May 12, the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect. Often referred to as the “Junk Fees Rule,” the Rule targets hidden, misleading, and deceptive charges and fees imposed by...more
A Native American advocacy group has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the New York Board of Regents to stop a rule that prohibits the use of indigenous mascots in public schools from taking effect, saying the ban...more
Court Narrows Scope of Character Copyright, Drawing Sharp Line Between Props and Protectable Expression - Not every film icon gets legal protection. On May 27, 2025, the Ninth Circuit ruled that Eleanor—the legendary Mustang...more
A long time ago in a galaxy not so far away, voice acting was the exclusive domain of talented humans. But today, in the age of generative AI, even the iconic voice of a legendary villain can be conjured without a single...more
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
Welcome back to the Spotlight! Given the volume of rain across the country recently, I may have to temporarily change the title to “Floodlight.” Yikes. I’d say these late nights watching the NBA Playoffs have made me a little...more
The former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. has pushed back against efforts to force him to hand over documents relating to his alleged sexual misconduct and hush money payments in a class action over the company’s...more
Welcome back to the Spotlight! In the past 7 months, I have borne witness to monumental postseason collapses by two of my favorite professional sports teams: my beloved hometown New York Yankees and New York Knicks. Last...more
Many new business owners in the restaurant, bar, nightclub, and karaoke business fail to understand that if live music is played in their establishment (called a public performance), the establishment must have the proper...more
Warner Music Group just sued DSW for using 200+ hit songs in social media ads—without permission. Those TikToks could now cost $30M. On this episode of The Briefing, entertainment and IP attorneys Scott Hervey and Tara...more
Responding to the lingering financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent Southern California wildfires, the City of Santa Monica is taking a bold step to breathe new life into the iconic Third Street Promenade....more
The relationship between a talent, on one hand, and a studio, concert promoter, or venue, on the other, almost always extends beyond performance and payment. One instance where this plays out is the promotion of a performance...more
Family offices have long been part of Hollywood’s DNA, quietly shaping its most iconic moments and technological progress. Paramount Pictures was one of Hollywood’s first family-controlled studios under business titan Adolph...more
Pop icon Lady Gaga is no stranger to making waves, but a new lawsuit initiated by California-based surfboard company Lost International (aka Lost Surfboards), shows that even superstars can find themselves navigating choppy...more
In the high-profile legal drama surrounding Sean "Diddy" Combs, the public’s attention has been focused on headlines, allegations, high-profile legal teams and courtroom appearances. But behind the scenes, a critical aspect...more
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
There are a lot of exciting emerging trends in the book publishing industry that are responsible for its consistent growth....more
The live entertainment industry should take note that the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has finalized its Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees aimed at eliminating deceptive pricing practices in the live-event ticketing...more
The Fourth Circuit on Friday seemed poised to unravel a federal court’s injunction allowing two NASCAR teams, including one co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan, to continue racing as chartered teams while they pursue...more
In this episode, Austin Padgett and Rusty Close discuss the legal implications of Mike Tyson's face tattoo in the context of intellectual property law. They explore the copyright infringement lawsuit filed by tattoo artist S....more
President Trump recently announced a plan to impose a 100% tariff on films produced outside of the United States, leaving stakeholders in the entertainment industry concerned and confused....more
The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, 16 C.F.R. Part 464, is effective as of May 12, 2025. According to the FTC’s recent press release, the Rule “prohibits bait-and-switch pricing and other...more
Welcome back to the Spotlight! While I appreciate your valiant efforts in coming back to this space, that comeback pales in comparison to the two comebacks the underdog New York Knicks have had against the defending NBA...more