LUCASFILM’S MOVES FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

LUCASFILM’S MOVES FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

By PPLAdmin / July 20, 2018

On June 28, 2018, Lucasfilm Ltd. asked a California federal judge to find that two mobile game developers ripped off “sabacc,” a fictional card game created used in the Star Wars movies. In their motion for partial summary judgment, LucasFilm asked the court to find that it owned the rights to the fictional game. LucasFilm…

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ED SHEERAN FACES ANOTHER LAWSUIT OVER “THINKING OUT LOUD”

By PPLAdmin / July 19, 2018

On June 28, 2018, Ed Sheeran was slapped with another copyright infringement lawsuit over his 2014 hit “Thinking out Loud” which Mavin Gaye’s estate contends is substantially similar to the Marvin Gaye song “Let’s Get It On.” A similar lawsuit was filed in 2016 against Sheeran which sought $100 million in damages by the family…

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U.S. SUPREME COURT TO ADDRESS WHETHER COPYRIGHT OWNERS MUST COMPLETE COPYRIGHT REGISTRATION OF THEIR WORKS BEFORE SUING

By PPLAdmin / July 18, 2018

On June 28, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to address the issue of whether copyright owners must obtain actual registration with the US Copyright Office (as opposed to simply submitting their application for registration) before filing a lawsuit. The Supreme Court Justices granted a “petition for writ of certiorari” in the case of Fourth…

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THE GRINCH HAS NOT STOLEN CHRISTMAS, YET

By PPLAdmin / July 16, 2018

On June 26, 2018, the Second Circuit began to listen to arguments regarding the summary judgment decision issued in September of 2017 finding that “Who’s Holiday!” a parody of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”, was protected by the doctrine of fair use. Dr. Seuss Enterprises LP (“Seuss”) has appealed a summary judgment issued by U.S.…

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DR. DRE AND JIMMY IOVINE TO PAY $25.25 MILLION TO STEVE LAMAR OVER BEATS

By PPLAdmin / July 6, 2018

On June 27, 2018, a California jury awarded entrepreneur Steven Lamar $25.25 million to by paid by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine to Lamar for his part in producing the first model of the popular “Beats” headphones. This was the end of a three-week trial after four years of litigation. It took the jurors three…

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COURT DENIES ALIBABA’S REQUEST FOR DISMISSAL

By PPLAdmin / June 29, 2018

On June 14, 2018, a California federal judge denied a motion to dismiss a class action brought by Indiana artists alleging that a company called Alibaba Group Holdings allowed copyright infringers to illegally reproduce the artwork of the Indiana artists on Alibaba’s website. The judge called the motion to dismiss a “waste of paper.” In…

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NY JUDGE ISSUES 89 PAGE RULING AGAINST REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER OVER WHITEWASHING 5POINTZ MURAL

By PPLAdmin / June 27, 2018

On June 13, 2018, New York U.S. District Judge Frederic Block issued an 89-page detailed explanation to why he denied New York City real estate developer Jerry Wolkoff a new trial. The opinion stated that Wolkoff “lied, was reckless and irresponsible” and demonstrated “egregious behavior” in court. Judge Bloc called the whitewashing “an act of…

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MAN STRUCK BY AX SUES FOX

By PPLAdmin / June 25, 2018

On June 14, 2018, Jeffrey Prosperie, who was struck by an ax by “Fox & Friends” co-host Pete Hegseth while shooting an episode of “Fox & Friends,” has filed a lawsuit in New York court against Pete Hegseth and Fox (including Fox Broadcasting, Fox News, Fox Entertainment, and “Fox & Friends”) for negligence. On June 14,…

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PEPSI MUST FACE SUPER BOWL AD LAWSUIT

By PPLAdmin / June 20, 2018

On June 4, 2018, U.S. District Judge Vincent L. Briccetti in the Southern District of New York refused to dismiss a Connecticut advertising agency’s claim that Pepsi stole a pitch for a Super Bowl ad that it had made to Pepsi in 2017. PepsiCo Inc. signed a three-year preliminary agreement in 2014 with Betty Inc.…

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COPYRIGHT SUIT OVER TIMBERLAKE SAMPLE REVIVED

By PPLAdmin / June 18, 2018

On June 5, 2018, the 2nd Circuit revived a copyright infringement suit against Justin Timberlake and others in connection with the song “Suit & Tie,” and J. Cole’s song “Chaining Day,” brought by the members of “Sly Slick & Wicked”, over their song “Sho ‘Nuff.” The songwriters 2016 lawsuit was dismissed by a New York…

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