K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (January 30, 2024)

Sports:

• Vince McMahon, co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., has resigned, a WWE representative confirmed Friday, a day after a former employee claimed McMahon forced her to have sex, trafficked her to other executives and employees, and then forced her out with a nondisclosure agreement and hush money. Vince McMahon Resigns From WWE Amid Sex Trafficking Suit – Law360
• A synthetic turf maker asked a New Jersey federal judge on Thursday to toss claims that its fields are defective, arguing the plaintiffs have failed to show that any feasible alternative existed at the time they purchased their fields. Schools, Towns Can’t Show Feasible Alternative, Turf Co. Says – Law360
• In turning back an Atlantic City casino’s $50 million bid for pandemic loss coverage, New Jersey’s top court kept in line with the vast majority of courts deciding such suits, while shutting the door to Garden State policyholders seeking virus coverage, experts say. NJ Justices Keep Up Trend Of Virus Suit Wins For Insurers – Law360
• Billionaire Ted Leonsis defended his plan to move the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals from the District of Columbia to a sprawling entertainment district planned for Alexandria, Virginia, on Thursday, stressing that the move will not alienate fans or impose new economic burdens. Caps, Wizards Owner Defends Plan To Move Teams To Virginia – Law360
• The liquidating trustee for the former parent of a gambling machine manufacturer has urged a Delaware bankruptcy court to unwind the confirmation of the subsidiary’s Chapter 11 plan, arguing it should get to explore allegations leveled by the underlying business’s new owners that the old management conspired to “loot” the company. Gambling Biz Ch. 11 Approval Must Be Undone, Court Told – Law360
• Spain’s highest court on Thursday recommended that Luis Rubiales, former president of the country’s governing body for soccer, stand trial for a nonconsensual kiss he planted on the lips of a player during the ceremony celebrating the women’s soccer team’s World Cup win. Ex-Spanish Soccer Head May Face Trial In Kiss Controversy – Law360

MLB

• A woman whose nose was broken by a line-drive ball at a Minor League Baseball game must arbitrate her case alleging that the stadium was unsafe, a Tennessee federal judge said Tuesday, because the parties mutually agreed to be bound by an arbitration clause on her ticket. Minor League Baseball Fan Must Arbitrate Broken Nose Suit – Law360

NFL

• Louisiana State Police announced Thursday they arrested New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte over allegations that he illegally gambled on sports, including on his own team, while he played football at Louisiana State University. NFL Player Accused Of Illegal Betting While A College Athlete – Law360

NBA

• Former high school basketball star and NBA journeyman guard Sebastian Telfair was spared prison time by a Manhattan federal judge Friday for his role in a scheme to submit fraudulent invoices to bilk money from the league’s healthcare plan. Former Hoops Star Avoids Prison For Healthcare Plan Fraud – Law360
• The parent company of the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and sports broadcaster Altitude Sports and Entertainment have urged a Colorado federal court to bar new allegations related to the recent layoff of a Hispanic sportscaster who is suing the companies for discrimination, arguing it’s too close to the upcoming trial date. Nuggets’ Parent Co. Says Host’s New Allegations Are Too Late – Law360

Entertainment:

MUSIC

• SoundExchange, a major nonprofit royalty collector in the U.S., has slipped out of an ongoing dispute in Detroit federal court between Parliament-Funkadelic bandleader George Clinton and the widow of the band’s founding keyboardist, Bernie Worrell. Feuding Funkadelic Estate Fails To Rope In Royalty Co. – Law360

MOVIES & TELEVISION

• Attorneys representing hosts of Discovery Channel’s Diesel Brothers have been ordered by a UT federal judge to show why sanctions shouldn’t be levied on them in connection with their clients’ failure to satisfy a judgment in a Clean Air Act lawsuit. ‘Diesel Brothers’ Attys May Face Sanctions In Emissions Case – Law360
• A NY federal judge dismissed, for now, a famed sportscaster’s trademark suit against HBO and Warner Bros. over their use of a similar version of his signature catchphrase in a 2023 episode of Perry Mason, after receiving word last week that the parties had reached a settlement-in-principle. HBO, Horse Race Announcer Settle TM Suit Over Catchphrase – Law360
• A cable television and internet industry group told the Federal Communications Commission that it broadly supports the commission’s proposal for mandatory participation in the Disaster Information Reporting System but asked that service providers be allowed more time to report the status of their networks when the disaster system is activated. Providers Want More Clarity From FCC On Outage Reporting – Law360
• Former The Real Housewives of New Jersey cast member Caroline Manzo sued Bravo Media LLC in NY state court, alleging her co-star Brandi Glanville sexually assaulted her and that the network “chose ratings and profits over protecting their employees.” ‘Real Housewives’ Star Claims Show Used Assault For Profit – Law360

ART & FASHION

• A CA federal jury cleared celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D of claims she infringed a copyrighted photo of Miles Davis, finding that her inked rendering of the jazz legend on a man’s arm is not substantially similar to the photograph. Kat Von D’s Miles Davis Tattoo Didn’t Infringe Photo, Jury Says – Law360
• The Museum of Modern Art knew members of the public were repeatedly sexually assaulting nude performers in an art exhibition, but “intentionally and negligently” failed to do anything about it, a performer alleges in a suit filed in NY state court. MoMA Didn’t Protect Performers From Sex Assaults, Suit Says – Law360
• The company behind Timberland footwear told a 4^th Circuit panel to find its Icon Boot eligible for trade dress protection, arguing a federal judge was wrong to conclude otherwise by holding that its design elements are functional and that consumers do not necessarily associate it with the brand. Timberland Tells 4th Circ. Boots Deserve TM Protection – Law360

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

• An AI inventor challenging the U.S. Copyright Office’s refusal to register an AI-generated artwork has asked the D.C. Circuit to reverse a lower court’s ruling upholding the government agency’s decision, arguing the law “explicitly allows for non-human authors.” Copyrights Not Limited To Humans, AI Creator Tells DC Circ. – Law360
• Just before closing arguments were set to begin in a Boston federal trial, Google said it had settled MA startup Singular Computing LLC’s $1.6 billion patent infringement case claiming the search giant stole its technology to boost its machine learning products. Google Settles Trial Over $1.6B AI Patent Claim – Law360
• The estate of late comedian George Carlin sued the makers of Dudesy, a comedy podcast created and written by artificial intelligence, after it “resurrected” Carlin by using his copyrighted works, creating a script for a fake comedy special and mimicking the sound of his voice to “perform” the script. George Carlin Estate Sues Over AI-Generated Comedy Special – Law360
• The White House called the recent circulation of sexually explicit artificial intelligence-generated images of Taylor Swift “alarming,” saying social media companies have a duty to prevent the spread of “nonconsensual intimate imagery of real people,” while others said the fake images amount to criminal sexual abuse. White House Calls Explicit AI Photos Of Taylor Swift ‘Alarming’ – Law360

MEANWHILE, IN HOLLYWOOD…

• Former World Wrestling Entertainment star Dwayne Johnson obtained all the intellectual property rights associated with “The Rock” trademark and was named to WWE parent company TKO Group Holdings Inc.’s board of directors, the company announced. Dwayne Johnson Secures IP Rights To ‘The Rock’ In TKO Deal – Law360
• Pop star Beyoncé’s dispute of a $3 million tax bill will head to trial in the U.S. Tax Court in May, according to a pretrial order. Beyoncé’s $3M Tax Court Trial Set For May – Law360
• A CN bankruptcy judge is allowing rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s cognac company to examine assets belonging to its former brand manager, a move that could help the artist recover a roughly $7 million judgment for claims accusing the now-insolvent ex-employee of stealing from the business. 50 Cent Can Look At Ex-Liquor Boss’s Assets For $7M Award – Law360
• A fan is suing 50 Cent in CA state court alleging the rapper threw his microphone into the crowd during a concert and hit her in the face, saying the incident caused her to suffer “severe and permanent injuries.” 50 Cent Fan Says Rapper Hit Her In The Face With Thrown Mic – Law360