K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (August 26, 2025)

Sports:

NCAA

• A Nashville federal judge Friday declined to grant a Division I college basketball player another year of eligibility, finding that the student-athlete has not shown how the National Collegiate Athletic Association‘s eligibility rules run afoul of antitrust law. Basketball Player Misses Shot At NCAA Early Waiver – Law360
• A federal judge on Wednesday allowed four football players to compete at West Virginia this season, the latest ruling in one of a long line of cases challenging the NCAA’s eligibility rules.  Judge allows 4 West Virginia football players fighting NCAA eligibility rules to compete – AP
• Northwestern University’s former football coach Pat Fitzgerald has settled his contract breach and defamation suit alleging he was fired without cause amid an investigation into hazing claims, with the school announcing Thursday that evidence revealed during discovery showed Fitzgerald never condoned or directed any hazing, and no player reported hazing to Fitzgerald.  Ex-Northwestern Coach Settles Firing Suit Over Hazing Probe – Law360

MLB

• Former players accusing Major League Baseball and its teams of colluding to pay minor leaguers “poverty level” wages are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case and overturn baseball’s century-old exemption from antitrust law. Minor Leaguers Ask Justices To Kill MLB Antitrust Exemption – Law360
• Retired MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini was set to be sentenced on Monday, Aug. 18, for killing his father-in-law, Gary Spohr, and attempting to kill his mother-in-law, Wendy Wood. Instead, the judge in the case granted his motion for a continuance and will hear arguments from the defense about granting Serafini a new trial in October. Instead of Being Sentenced Today, Ex-MLB Player Daniel Serafini Might Get a New Trial – People

Entertainment:

MUSIC

• Rapper and songwriter Missy Elliott and a producer who claims to be a joint author of some of her music resolved their copyright dispute minutes before a jury was to be selected, a PA federal judge told potential jurors. Missy Elliott Finally Settles Prolonged Songwriting Credit Dispute
• AI music generator Suno asked a MA federal judge to trim a proposed class action on behalf of independent musicians, saying the plaintiffs fail to offer any support for their novel claim that the songs generated by the tool are copyright-infringing copies. AI Music Company Suno Responds to Indie Artist’s Class Action Lawsuit
• The 9^th Circuit said that a CA federal judge was wrong to rule that a 1977 royalties agreement between the members of rock group Supertramp could be terminated, overruling a jury verdict and ordering that the band’s co-founder Roger Hodgson be held liable for discontinuing his royalty payments to three other band members. Supertramp singer must ‘Give a Little Bit’ to ex-bandmates, US court rules | Reuters

MOVIES, TELEVISION & INTERNET

• Google LLC and its subsidiary YouTube will pay $30 million to resolve a long-running proposed class action accusing them of illegally collecting children’s data to generate targeted advertising, according to documents filed in CA federal court. Google settles YouTube children’s privacy lawsuit | Reuters
• The Netflix documentary miniseries Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer used a YouTuber’s interview with an accused serial killer without permission, a copyright suit said. Netflix Faces Lawsuit Over Use of Interview in Gilgo Beach Killings Documentary – USA Herald

LAWSUITS OF THE RICH & FAMOUS

• Actress and singer Patty Apollonia Kotero, Prince’s co-star in his 1984 film Purple Rain, filed a lawsuit against his estate seeking a court order declaring her ownership of the name “Apollonia.” Prince Estate Faces Lawsuit From ‘Purple Rain’ Co-Star Apollonia