K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (April 1, 2025)

Sports:

• A New York federal judge has tossed several school district lawsuits seeking to void a state law banning the use of Native American team mascots and names, throwing out individual board members’ free speech claims but saying they can amend their suits as private citizens. Judge Tosses 3 Suits Challenging Ban On Native Mascots – Law360

NCAA

• A group of Division I volunteer baseball coaches has asked a California federal court to sign off on a proposed settlement under which the NCAA would pay $49.25 million to roughly 1,000 coaches to resolve their proposed antitrust class action challenging a since-repealed “uniform wage fix” bylaw. NCAA Baseball Coaches Ask Court To OK $49M Wage-Fix Deal – Law360
• With the final approval hearing for the landmark House v. NCAA settlement mere weeks away, Nebraska lawmakers are looking to reshape how the deal might function in their state. NCAA Faces New Hurdle as Nebraska NIL Bill Rejects Contract Disclosure Mandates – SI

MLB

• Harry Sidhu, the former Anaheim mayor who took office vowing to keep the Angels baseball franchise in town, was sentenced Friday to two months in federal prison for conduct related to a collapsed deal to sell the team’s stadium and other crimes. Former Anaheim mayor sentenced in Angels Stadium corruption probe – LA Times
• Former catcher and current TV commentator for the Pittsburgh Pirates Michael McKenry claims he was duped into investing in a “pro-Second Amendment” online video platform with false promises of social media reach and growth, in a lawsuit in Pennsylvania state court seeking his money back. Ex-MLB Player Says Pro-Gun Social Media Site Duped Him – Law 360
• The Phillies are suing two sports analytics firms to block them from selling their software to division rivals, a move the team claims would violate their contract for the companies’ player evaluation data and other baseball operations tools, according to a federal lawsuit filed in Philadelphia. Phillies file lawsuit to stop analytics firms from selling software to division rivals – Philly Voice

NFL

• Former NFL running back LeShon Johnson has been charged in a federal dogfighting case after 190 dogs were seized from him last year. The Department of Justice announced in a news release this week that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma unsealed the grand jury indictment charging Johnson with violating the federal Animal Welfare Act. Ex-NFL RB LeShon Johnson charged in federal dogfighting case – ESPN

Entertainment:

MUSIC

• Anthropic PBC persuaded a federal judge to deny music publishers’ request to block the tech company from using their copyrighted song lyrics to train AI models. Anthropic wins early round in music publishers’ AI copyright case | Reuters
• Investors suing Live Nation Entertainment Inc. have asked a CA federal judge to approve a $20 million deal ending claims that the company made misleading statements about its operations when news of alleged anticompetitive practices with Ticketmaster caused stock prices to drop following the tickets sales debacle for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. Live Nation Settles Investor Class Action Lawsuit for $20M
• A panel of federal appeals court judges at a hearing in L.A. puzzled over whether to revive a copyright lawsuit accusing pop singers Sam Smith and Normani Hamilton of stealing key musical elements for their 2019 hit “Dancing With a Stranger.” 9th Circuit panel appears split on copyright fight over Sam Smith’s ‘Dancing With a Stranger’
• Ye has been sued for copyright infringement in CA federal court over his song with Kid Cudi and Ty Dolla Sign, “Gun To My Head,” which allegedly sampled a track by German artist Alice Merton, who is descended from Holocaust survivors and had refused to clear Ye’s use due to the rapper’s public antisemitism. Kanye West Sued by Singer Who Denied Sample Usage Over Antisemitism
• Pop singer Dua Lipa convinced a federal judge to grant her an early victory in a lawsuit accusing her of infringing the copyrights of two disco songs with her hit “Levitating.” Dua Lipa wins ‘Levitating’ lawsuit, judge says you can’t own disco
• A MI federal judge said the lead singer of The Romantics must face a bandmate’s demands for a detailed accounting of the band’s finances and allegations the singer has been withholding royalties and revenue from performances from a shared company. Court Holds On Tight To ‘What I Like About You’ Band’s Row – Law360
• President Donald Trump doubled down on his claims that Isaac Hayes’ estate can’t show it owns the rights to the 1966 song “Hold On, I’m Coming,” arguing its “dubious chain of copyright ownership” can’t overcome his bid to dismiss the legendary musician’s estate’s suit over his playing the song at campaign events. Trump Asks Again For End To ‘Dubious’ Isaac Hayes Suit – Law360

FILM & TELEVISION

• Walt Disney Co.‘s 20th Century Studio Inc. and a digital artist agreed to quickly end his copyright lawsuit alleging a scene in the 2024 film Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes used his work without permission. 20th Century, Artist Settle ‘Planet of the Apes’ Copyright Suit
• Walt Disney Co. sought $5.7 million in attorney fees after beating an animator’s trade secret and copyright suit claiming it ripped off his Polynesian adventure story to create Moana, arguing he engaged in bad-faith tactics like forging evidence, perjuring himself and improperly inflating purported damages. Disney Seeks $5.7M Atty Fee Award After ‘Moana’ IP Trial Win – Law360
• The Oprah Winfrey Network was sued in federal court for allegedly stealing a GA screenwriter’s copyrighted material to create the movie A Christmas Fumble. Oprah’s Network Faces Suit Over ‘Christmas Fumble’ IP Spat – Law360
• A NJ trial lawyer who accused Netflix of infringing his copyright in its documentary about sexual abuse in the Boy Scouts of America pushed back against the streaming giant’s dismissal bid, arguing the film copied the storytelling framework used in his own documentary. Atty Says Netflix’s Boy Scout Doc Copied Style, Not Just Facts – Law360

LAWSUITS OF THE RICH & FAMOUS

• A CA state court judge said that new evidence submitted by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter “has thrown a monkey wrench” in his analysis of the rapper’s feud with personal injury lawyer Tony Buzbee, and he’s now inclined to keep alive an extortion claim stemming from now-abandoned rape allegations. Jay-Z Predicted To Proceed With Extortion Claim Against Lawyer Tony Buzbee
• Lady Gaga’s merchandise and tour promoting her recent Mayhem album infringe the trademark owned by the surf brand Lost, according to a new federal lawsuit. Lady Gaga Sued Over ‘Mayhem’ Album, Surf Company Says She Jacked Their Logo
• Kim Kardashian and interior design studio Clements Design Inc. lost their motions to dismiss claims alleging Clements created knockoff Donald Judd furniture pieces that Kardashian promoted as authentic. Kim Kardashian, Clements Design Fail to Shake Foundation IP Suit
• A NY federal judge threatened counsel for one of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former music producers with sanctions for a pattern of false statements and inappropriate insults in civil sexual assault litigation, calling one statement in the attorney’s court filings “not just disturbing, but shocking.” Diddy Producer’s Atty Gets Warning For ‘Shocking’ Statement – Law360