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    K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (August 18, 2023)

    August 18, 2023, 09:00 AM

    Sports:

    Entertainment:

    • Gaming:
      • The Brandr Group LLC, a brand management agency focused mostly on athletes’ name, image and likeness (NIL), has urged a federal judge to not toss its lawsuit against Electronic Arts (maker of the popular videogame NCAA Football), calling the video game publisher’s motion to dismiss and stay discovery a “brazen attempt to steamroll” its contractual rights so EA can use student athletes’ name, image and likeness without fairly compensating them – License Co. Blasts EA’s ‘Brazen’ Video Game NIL Suit Tactics – Law360
      • Gamers are hoping to convince the Ninth Circuit to press pause on Microsoft’s $68.7 billion deal with Activision Blizzard while they continue to challenge it in court by filing a fervent final written argument for why the acquisition is “striking and dangerous” – Gamers Ask 9th Circ. To Pause Microsoft-Activision Deal – Law360
    • Film:
      • A California federal judge granted a joint bid by Netflix and a screenwriter to dismiss an intellectual property lawsuit alleging the video-streaming behemoth ripped off ideas from the writer’s undeveloped screenplays in its hit science-fiction series “Stranger Things” – Netflix, Screenwriter End ‘Stranger Things’ Monster IP Fight – Law360
      • The Writers Guild of America West, which is currently striking against Hollywood Studios, released a report detailing how deregulation and mergers could soon leave Disney, Netflix and Amazon controlling what content is made and how consumers can watch it, saying the three companies are “positioning themselves to be the new gatekeepers of media” – Striking WGA Eyes Antitrust Probe Of Disney, Netflix, Amazon – Law360
      • Film financing company TSG Entertainment sued The Walt Disney Co. and the former Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming they have employed aggressive “Hollywood accounting” and self-dealing tactics to deprive TSG of hundreds of millions of dollars – Film Financier Claims ‘Hollywood Accounting’ By Disney – Law360
    • Music:
      • Nonprofit royalty collector SoundExchange Inc. filed a lawsuit in Virginia federal court alleging that Sirius XM is “gaming the system” and manipulating regulations to avoid paying higher royalties to artists and copyright holders, and owes more than $150 million in unpaid royalties from the past several years – SiriusXM Owes Over $150M In Unpaid Royalties, Suit Says – Law360
      • A California federal jury largely cleared Smokey Robinson of claims he breached a contract with his former manager, rejecting the manager’s bid for nearly $1 million in concert commissions while finding the Motown legend owes $2,000 on a record advance – Jury Says Smokey Robinson Owes $2K In $1M Contract Trial – Law360
    • A California federal judge tossed a fan-fiction writer’s $250 million copyright infringement lawsuit alleging Amazon Studios and J.R.R. Tolkien’s heirs ripped off his sequels to “The Lord of the Rings,” finding his books aren’t copyright-protected because they were “lifted lock, stock and barrel” from the hit fantasy series – ‘Lord Of The Rings’ Fan Writer’s $250M IP Suit Shall Not Pass – Law360
    • YouTube star MrBeast has dropped his federal lawsuit accusing Virtual Dining Concepts of tarnishing his reputation by serving low-quality food in the two parties’ joint venture for the delivery-only MrBeast Burger restaurant in favor of refiling it in New York state court, where the virtual restaurant company has countersued him – MrBeast Moves Suit Over ‘Inedible’ Burgers To NY State Court – Law360