Entertainment Law Update

  SHOW NOTES Breaking News:​ 2nd Circuit affirms lower court ruling against 100% licensing. BMI scores a big win. https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8071046/court-appeals-fractionalized-licensing-songwriters-publishers-reactions   GRONKING TO REMEMBER (FOLLOW UP) http://www.trademarkandcopyrightlawblog.com/2017/11/a-gronking-to-remember-plaintiffs-lose-right-of-publicity-appeal/   BIG PIMPIN’ FOLLOW UP https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/big-pimpin-appellate-arguments-focus-labels-1065847   COMICON IS TRADEMARKED https://io9.gizmodo.com/san-diego-comic-con-wins-lawsuit-over-comic-con-tradema-1821150395 http://fox13now.com/2017/12/08/jury-sides-with-san-diego-comic-con-in-lawsuit-against-salt-lake-comic-con/ http://www.sltrib.com/news/2017/12/09/jury-sides-with-san-diego-in-comic-con-trademark-infringement-dispute/… Read the rest

  SHOW NOTES QUICK FOLLOW UP: COMIC-CON http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/comic-con-gag-orders-vacated-by-appeals-court-1052334 http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2017/10/26/17-72682.pdf   SIRIUS XM RULING: FLORIDA DOESN’T DO PERFORMANCE RIGHTS http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/siriusxm-wins-appeal-pre-1972-sound-recordings-florida-1052130 https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2017/10/26/florida-pre-1972-copyright-oldies/ https://www.scribd.com/document/362707106/Flo-Eddie-Inc-v-Sirius-XM-Radio-Inc-827-F-3d-1016-1018-11th-Cir-2016   FOX WINS ON EMPIRE TRADEMARK SUIT (FOLLOW-UP) https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/fox-wins-appellate-battle-title-empire-1059062 https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca9/16-55577/16-55577-2017-11-16.html?utm_source=summary-newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2017-11-17-entertainment-sports-law-4c3249b90f&utm_content=text-case-title-1   IMPERSONATIONS AND TRADEMARK: H&M AND WOOF-TANG CLAN https://abovethelaw.com/2017/11/band-in-the-usa-how-can-musicians-fight-the-unauthorized-use-of-their-identities/… Read the rest

  SHOW NOTES GRINCH PLAYWRIGHT DENIED ATTORNEY FEES  https://www.law360.com/media/articles/969464/-grinch-playwright-denied-fees-from-seuss-for-now In a bold lawsuit, CG Software maker claims ownership of hollywood film scenes… http://www.entmedialaw.com/edition/daily-gps-museum-2017-10-17?open-article-id=7384771&article-title=hollywood-confronts-a-copyright-argument-with-p otential-for-mass-disruption&blog-domain=blogs.com&blog-title=thr–esq–entertainment—media-law-blog http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/digital-domain-mova-tech-banned-906902 http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/disney-facing-vfx-firms-injunction-bid-three-blockbuster-films-1021841 https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4111653-Rearden-Oppo.html (Plaintiff’s Opposition) http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/personal-feud-behind-digital-domain-908904 https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=1050628306163097816&hl=en&as_sdt=6&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr (related case)   COMIC-CON TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT LAWSUIT http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/jury-decide-not-comic-con-has-become-generic-1041422 https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4056439-Comic-Con-Sj.html… Read the rest

  SHOW NOTES SCREEN ACTORS GUILD URGES JUDGE TO SAVE AGE-CENSORSHIP LAW TO COMBAT RAMPANT BIAS SAG-AFTRA is trying to intervene and keep AB1687 (the anti-age disclosure law) alive. Caption: IMDB.COM,Inc. V. Xavier Becerra. JX: FEDERAL-Northern District of California (related … Read the rest

SHOW NOTES   Podcasting Patent Invalidation upheld by appeals Court (quick take) https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/08/appeals-court-upholds-invalidation-of-podcasting-patent/   Beatles Concert Film Ownership Challenge – Judge Rules for Beatles http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/beatles-triumph-ownership-fight-footage-famous-concert-1   John Oliver v. Bob Murray Lawsuit Continues: ACLU Files a Brief and Bob Gets His … Read the rest

SHOW NOTES FOLLOW UP: Widow of Four Season’s autobiography ghostwriter sues the producers of the Jersey Boys movie http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/clint-eastwood-warner-bros-face-copyright-lawsuit-jersey-boys-adaptation-1018490   IMDB FOLLOW UP http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/hollywood-docket-straight-outta-compton-good-lie-andy-warhols-prince-1018518   A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS RULED POKEMON GO PROTECTED UNDER CONSTITUTION (Quick take) MONKEY SELFIE IN … Read the rest

        SHOW NOTES SUPREME COURT DENIES CERT. In Lenz v. Universal. ’nuff said. THE SLANTS IS FINALLY OUT https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/15-1293_1o13.pdf (OPINION) https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/19/us/politics/supreme-court-trademarks-redskins.html https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/06/19/supreme-court-upholds-offensive-trademarks-form-free-speech/100618478/ http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-court-slants-disparate-trademark-20170619-story.html NPR Story June 19, 2017 SI – Why the Redskins scored a victory in … Read the rest

In this episode, in addition to our usual coverage of the stories from the previous month, we take a deep dive into “Over The Top” services… Stay tuned ’till the end         SHOW NOTES EAGLES SUE HOTEL … Read the rest

In this episode, in addition to our usual coverage of the stories from the previous month, we take a deep dive into “Over The Top” services… Stay tuned ’till the end         SHOW NOTES EAGLES SUE HOTEL CALIFORNIA FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/eagles-sue-hotel-california-trademark-infringement-999615   THE US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE DENIES “MARIJUANAVILLE” ITS TRADEMARK Link […]

        SHOW NOTES   New Bill Makes the Appointment of the Register of Copyrights More Democratic. (Point Counterpoint) http://deadline.com/2017/03/hollywood-register-of-copyrights-bill-president-1202050586/ https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/03/lets-make-copyright-office-less-political-not-more Film on Denied Compulsory Licenses (Follow Up – Ep 58) http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/appeals-court-rules-tv-streamers-dont-get-compulsory-license-broadcast-networks-987614 https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3521296-Filmon.html   Cheerleading Uniforms: Designs are Separable (followup) http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/supreme-court-uses-imagination-holding-cheerleader-uniform-designs-get-copyright-protection- https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/15-866_0971.pdf (OPINION) http://www.worldipreview.com/news/cheerleading-uniforms-may-be-copyrighted-says-scotus-13712 https://www.law360.com/articles/890333/star-athletica-v-varsity-ceci-n-est-pas-une-useful-article http://www.natlawreview.com/article/give-me-supreme-court-holds-copyright-protects-decorative-elements-useful-articles http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/client-alert-supreme-court-finds-90656/ http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/scotus-determines-that-decorations-on-27243/ https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20170323/00433236983/supreme-court-says-you-can-copyright-elements-useful-articles-which-may-spell disaster-3d-printing-more.shtml http://money.cnn.com/2017/03/22/news/companies/varsity-cheerleaders-supreme-court/ http://sedgwickmail.com/rv/ff002f8fcf1bb85a0243db67274d87ed5202c48d/p=2248218 http://wwd.com/business-news/legal/urban-oufitters-on-hook-for-530k-after-reckless-fabric-copying-10859575/   Scotus Passes on Vimeo Lawsuit […]

        SHOW NOTES   New Bill Makes the Appointment of the Register of Copyrights More Democratic. (Point Counterpoint) http://deadline.com/2017/03/hollywood-register-of-copyrights-bill-president-1202050586/ https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/03/lets-make-copyright-office-less-political-not-more Film on Denied Compulsory Licenses (Follow Up – Ep 58) http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/appeals-court-rules-tv-streamers-dont-get-compulsory-license-broadcast-networks-987614 https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3521296-Filmon.html   Cheerleading Uniforms: Designs are … Read the rest

  SHOW NOTES Stairway to Heaven fight ascends to the 9th circuit http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/stairway-heaven-fight-heads-9th-circuit-987061   Pre 1972  Sound Recordings copyright  issue certified to California Supreme Court Is there still gold in these oldies? http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/performance-rights-pre-1972-sound-recordings-kicked-california-supreme-court-986446   New York appeals Court reversed the … Read the rest

  SHOW NOTES Stairway to Heaven fight ascends to the 9th circuit http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/stairway-heaven-fight-heads-9th-circuit-987061   Pre 1972  Sound Recordings copyright  issue certified to California Supreme Court Is there still gold in these oldies? http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/performance-rights-pre-1972-sound-recordings-kicked-california-supreme-court-986446   New York appeals Court reversed the Dismissal of a case brought against lifetime for Airing a Biopic of a convicted Murderer (Follow […]

? SHOW NOTES Sirius Battle Over Attorney Fees Follows Turtles’ Pre-1972 Sound Recordings Settlement http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/sirius-battle-attorney-fees-follows-turtles-pre-72-sound-recordings-settlement-969387 https://www.scribd.com/document/337743480/Sirius-Response https://www.scribd.com/document/337743410/Flo-Eddie-Reply Related: Florida Supreme Court to hear Turtles copyright case http://www.newsherald.com/news/20170201/supreme-court-to-hear-turtles-copyright-case Appeals Court Makes It Tougher for Content Companies to Sue Tech Services for … Read the rest

? SHOW NOTES Sirius Battle Over Attorney Fees Follows Turtles’ Pre-1972 Sound Recordings Settlement http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/sirius-battle-attorney-fees-follows-turtles-pre-72-sound-recordings-settlement-969387 https://www.scribd.com/document/337743480/Sirius-Response https://www.scribd.com/document/337743410/Flo-Eddie-Reply Related: Florida Supreme Court to hear Turtles copyright case http://www.newsherald.com/news/20170201/supreme-court-to-hear-turtles-copyright-case Appeals Court Makes It Tougher for Content Companies to Sue Tech Services for Mass Piracy http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/appeals-court-makes-tougher-content-companies-sue-tech-services-mass-piracy-967386 https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/02/another-loss-perfect-10-another-good-day-copyright-law http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2017/01/23/15-55500.pdf   EFF to Court: Don’t Let the Right of Publicity […]