Popular, Entertainment Industry

Spotlight or Lawsuit? Strategic Brand Use in Film and Media

Dorsey & Whitney LLP on 7/28/2025

When The White Lotus returned to HBO for its third season, it came with the usual dose of dramatic tension, along with one unexpected intellectual property wrinkle. [WARNING – Potential Plot Spoiler Ahead!] In a particularly...more

Up, Up, and Litigated: Superman’s 87-Year Copyright War

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on 7/15/2025

Superman has soared back onto the big screen, and unless you’ve been locked in the Fortress of Solitude, you already know his origin story: Rocketed from the doomed planet Krypton. Raised in Kansas. Secretly, a mild-mannered...more

From Radio Stunt to Licensing Asset: What Wing Bowl Teaches Us About Trademark Value

Volpe Koenig on 7/9/2025

What’s in a name? For Philadelphians (and young men of a particular era) “Wing Bowl” conjures up zany images from the 1993-2018 annual early morning chicken wing eating competition including scantily clad women, radio...more

Beyond the Strikes: How AI Is Reshaping the Media & Entertainment Landscape—and How Global Regulators Are Responding

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP on 7/1/2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the media and entertainment industry. Once viewed by many as a threat, AI is increasingly being embraced as a powerful tool. Studios and tech-forward production companies...more

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

Weintraub Tobin on 6/20/2025

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

Turn the Trademarks Off: The Trademarks of Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Beyonce

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on 6/4/2025

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

Reintroducing the No FAKES Act

Dorsey & Whitney LLP on 4/21/2025

A bipartisan Bill aiming to protect individuals from having their voice and visual likeness used without their consent was reintroduced in Congress earlier this month....more

Live Nation’s Motion to Dismiss Government Antitrust Case Rejected

Mogin Law LLP on 3/24/2025

The U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division and state antitrust authorities have plausibly alleged that Live Nation engaged in illegal tying and coercion of performing artists, a federal judge in the Southern District...more

Wastin’ Away in Non-Complianceville

Foley & Lardner LLP on 2/17/2025

Everyone knows — or should know — that “The Terminator” is the best Halloween movie release and that “Die Hard” is the best Christmas movie (even though it was released in July). But while it’s hard to come up with a best...more

Annual Super Bowl Post

Fox Rothschild LLP on 2/10/2025

My favorite blog post of the year—where I get to assess the best commercials, track the rise in ad costs, and challenge you to identify your favorite celebrity endorsement. This year, demand for ad space was “robust” with...more

It Ends with Us, But Continues in Court: Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's Legal Battle

Offit Kurman on 2/5/2025

The film “It Ends With Us” was a massive hit in 2024, grossing $350 million globally. Yet, the drama surrounding the film has shifted from the big screen to the courtroom, with a series of legal battles between its stars,...more

Decoding California’s Recent Flurry of AI Laws

Foley & Lardner LLP on 10/7/2024

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently faced a wave of AI-related legislation, with 38 bills reaching his desk. Despite rejecting the much-debated SB-1047, Governor Newsom signed more than a dozen other AI-focused bills...more

Legal Considerations for Esports Teams with International Players

Saul Ewing LLP on 9/27/2024

Unlike casual gaming, esports involves professional players, structured tournaments, and often large audiences, both online and in-person, akin to traditional sports events. With its own ecosystem of leagues, sponsors, and...more

Game On: SAG-AFTRA’s Video Game Performer Members Strike Over AI Concerns

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP on 8/13/2024

After almost 2 years of negotiations over a new interactive media agreement with video game industry giants such as Activision, Electronic Arts, Warner Bros. and Walt Disney Co., video game performers voted to strike as of...more

AI in the Movies: FP Reviews the Best Movies About Artificial Intelligence

Fisher Phillips on 7/26/2024

Artificial intelligence might just be making major inroads into your workday and personal lives over the last few years, but it has long been a key plot point in some of your favorite movies. In fact, some would say that AI...more

First-of-Its-Kind AI Law Addresses Deep Fakes and Voice Clones

Holland & Knight LLP on 4/2/2024

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has been a growing concern among recording artists, music industry leaders and lawmakers, who, for the most part, have all pushed for stronger protections over musicians' copyrights...more

California Determined to Take Lead on AI Regulation: A Glance at The State’s Proposed Artificial Intelligence Rules

Fisher Phillips on 3/18/2024

California wants to rein in artificial intelligence – and that means employers and businesses need to step up and pay attention. State lawmakers are considering more than 30 AI-related bills across a wide range of topics...more

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

Kaufman & Canoles on 1/16/2024

A Florida State assistant coach has been suspended for the first three games of the 2024 season for violating recruiting rules by connecting a potential transfer with a representative from an NIL collective during an official...more

The Generative AI Revolution: Key Legal Considerations for the Media & Entertainment Industry

ArentFox Schiff on 9/20/2023

For better or worse, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is already transforming the way we live and work. Within two months of its initial release to the public, ChatGPT reached 100 million monthly active users,...more

The Show Must Go On: Entertainer-Employee Classification Takes Center Stage for Venues

DarrowEverett LLP on 4/26/2023

It’s spring 2023, live entertainment is back, and perhaps so is the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law on August 16, 2022, authorizes $80 billion in funding for the IRS over the...more

Inside the Courts – An Update From Skadden Securities Litigators - March 2023

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP on 3/16/2023

Circuits Split Over Whether Targeting Is Necessary for Seller Liability - Key Points - - While courts have long held that solicitations must be tailored to a particular audience to precipitate statutory seller liability,...more

Sports & Entertainment Spotlight: Jack Daniel’s and McLaren Racing Toast to an F1 Sponsorship Deal, Because Nothing Goes Together...

Foster Garvey PC on 9/16/2022

Welcome back to the "Spotlight!" One of the many peculiarities of the English language is the phrase, “family business.” The phrase can refer to a business that is owned and/or operated by several family members. It can also...more

Sports & Entertainment Spotlight: A Non-Fungible Token (NFT) Entitling the Bearer to a Beer With Bill Murray Fetched the...

Foster Garvey PC on 9/2/2022

Welcome back to the "Spotlight!" After over two and a half years, COVID-19 has finally made its way past my doorstep and throughout my home. It’s Wednesday night and I am physically and emotionally drained, I feel like I...more

Why Ontario Employers Should Review Employment Contracts Now

Bennett Jones LLP on 8/18/2022

Key Highlights - - Employers likely need to update terms in employment contracts on termination provisions, restrictive covenants and arbitration clauses. - Five practical tips for Ontario employers as they review and...more

Spotlight on online gaming

Hogan Lovells on 7/1/2022

There is no need to say that online gaming has conquered the world and certainly will shape the future. It is an industry with one of the quickest product launches, rise of new market players and key drivers for new...more

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