K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (December 19, 2023)

Sports:

• World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. has settled an antitrust lawsuit brought in CA federal court by rival MLW Media LLC that accused the entertainment giant of monopolizing pro wrestling broadcasts in the U.S., after WWE recently dropped several affirmative defenses. WWE, Wrestling Rival Reach Deal In Calif. Antitrust Row – Law360
• The Ultimate Fighting Championship urged an NV federal judge not to let fighters block it from challenging their experts ahead of an April wage-fixing trial, arguing the court never directly weighed the experts’ admissibility, even when deeming the analysis sufficient to certify a class. UFC Defends Renewed Attack On Fighters’ Experts – Law360
• The Harlem Globetrotters have settled an intellectual property dispute with the makers of a biopic about one of the team’s legendary athletes, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, after initially claiming the film could harm the team’s brand. Harlem Globetrotters Drop IP Suit Over Player Biopic – Law360

MLB

• A CA federal judge has scrapped the upcoming jury trial for a former Los Angeles Dodgers star accused of lying to investigators about an illicit sports gambling ring pending resolution of prosecutors’ interlocutory appeal of her decision refusing to allow them to use a reneged plea agreement as evidence. Ex-MLBer’s Trial Delayed As Feds Seek To Use Reneged Plea – Law360

NCAA

• The Washington Supreme Court on Friday declined to review a lower court ruling that gave full control of the Pac-12 Conference to Washington State and Oregon State universities, the only schools set to stay in the conference next year. High Court Won’t Review Ruling Over Pac-12 Control – Law360
• The Michigan State University Board of Trustees voted to release to the state attorney general thousands of documents related to the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal that it had previously withheld while claiming attorney-client privilege. MSU Reverses Stance, Agrees To Release Nassar Documents – Law360
• A WV federal judge has placed a temporary hold on an NCAA rule requiring certain student athletes who transferred schools to wait a year before competing in games, marking a significant early victory in the antitrust lawsuit lodged by seven state attorneys general. Judge Blocks NCAA Rule Restricting Athlete Transfers – Law360

GOLF

• The PGA TOUR Policy Board has unanimously selected an outside investment group to further negotiate with as talks with the PIF continue to progress. The decision to advance discussions with Strategic Sports Group (SSG) was announced Sunday in a memo to TOUR members. PGA TOUR Policy Board agrees to advance negotiations with Strategic Sports Group, continue PIF negotiations – PGA TOUR

NBA

• Former NBA star Dwight Howard has asked a GA state court to throw out allegations that he sexually assaulted a man more than two years ago, claiming the accusations were fabricated after the basketball player refused to repeat the pair’s consensual night together. Ex-NBA Star Dwight Howard Says Texts Sink Sex Assault Suit – Law360
• The operating company of the NBA’s Miami Heat has settled an October lawsuit filed by a blind FL resident who claimed that the team store’s website is inaccessible to the visually impaired in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Miami Heat, Blind Customer Settle ADA Suit Over Team Store – Law360

Entertainment:

MUSIC

• A CA federal judge has rejected MGA Entertainment’s bid to immediately appeal his order vacating the toy giant’s win in rapper Clifford “T.I.” Harris’ $100 million intellectual property fight and sending the case to a third trial, set for September 2024. MGA Must Face 3rd Doll IP Trial Against Rapper TI Next Year – Law360
• EasyGroup, the parent company of easyJet, has accused a British musician of infringing its family of “easy”-prefix trademarks to take advantage of its brand’s reputation in the U.K. and woo consumers into buying more of his tunes. EasyGroup Not Amused By Songwriter’s ‘EasyFun’ Name – Law360 UK

TV & FILM

• Rearden LLC’s CEO testified before a jury in a $400 million lawsuit in CA federal court that a former engineer stole the company’s special-effects equipment in a “smash and grab” break-in before selling it to Disney’s vendor for 2017’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast. Disney Film Used IP Stolen In ‘Smash And Grab,’ Jury Told – Law360
• An NY federal judge ruled that The Catholic University of America can auction a blue-and-white gingham dress worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz discovered in the storage of a deceased priest in 2021, tossing a suit by the priest’s niece who claimed ownership. Catholic University Wins Fight Over ‘Wizard Of Oz’ Dress – Law360
• The Harlem Globetrotters have settled an intellectual property dispute with the makers of a biopic about one of the team’s legendary athletes, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, after initially claiming the film could harm the team’s brand. Harlem Globetrotters Drop IP Suit Over Player Biopic – Law360
• Democratic members of the FCC proposed banning cable and satellite TV providers from charging subscribers for early termination of programming contracts. FCC Dems Back Drive To Ban ‘Junk’ Pay TV Fees – Law360

VIDEO GAMES

• A CA federal jury dealt Google a devastating blow after just hours of deliberations in Epic Games’ antitrust suit over Google’s Play Store, ruling that the search giant illegally restrained trade in the market for Android app distribution and billing services and setting the stage for a possible court-ordered injunction. Epic Games Jury Says Google Monopolized App Market – Law360
• Video game controller designer Haowei Yang secured a temporary restraining order from an MI federal court that blocks Chinese company Shenzhen Hongfangrui from advertising and selling allegedly infringing game controller joysticks. Controller Co. Nabs Restraining Order In Gaming IP Feud – Law360

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

• The U.S. Copyright Office has denied an artist’s attempt to register his van Gogh-inspired artwork generated by artificial intelligence, saying there’s not enough human involvement for the artist to claim copyright. US Copyright Office Rejects Bid To Register AI-Generated Art – Law360
• Comedian Sarah Silverman and several authors have launched a revised copyright infringement claim alleging that Meta trained its “Llama” AI model using copyrighted works, shortly after a CA judge ruled the brunt of an initial complaint was “not viable.” Sarah Silverman, Authors Trim Meta AI Copyright Claim – Law360
• The Ukrainian maker of AI face-swapping app Reface has urged the 9^th Circuit to strike a right-of-publicity complaint from Big Brother star Kyland Young, arguing its product is protected by the First Amendment. Face-Swapping App Asks 9th Circ. To Ax Reality TV Star’s Suit – Law360

MEANWHILE, IN HOLLYWOOD…

• An attorney for Brad Pitt urged a CA state judge not to dismiss his client’s lawsuit against Angelina Jolie over her sale of her share of their French vineyard to a Russian oligarch, saying the facts support his claim she breached their implied-in-fact contract by selling to a “stranger.” Pitt Says Suit Over Jolie’s Winery Sale Should Not Die On Vine – Law360