K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (July 9, 2024)

Sports:

• The legislature of New York’s Nassau County passed a law on Monday to ban women’s and girls’ sports teams from using sports facilities in the county on Long Island unless they exclude transgender girls and women from playing. New York county passes law to restrict trans girls and women from sports venues – Reuters

NCAA

• A University of North Carolina tennis star is seeking an injunction in her federal lawsuit against the NCAA over access to prize money. UNC tennis star seeks injunction in suit against NCAA over prize money – Carolina Journal
• An Indiana federal judge on Tuesday dismissed, at least for the time being, a lawsuit filed by University of San Francisco baseball players accusing the NCAA of causing harm by remaining silent about the “rampant” sexual abuse committed by two USF coaches, ruling that there was no contractual relationship between the parties. NCAA Escapes USF Baseball Coach Abuse Suit For Now – Law360
• A North Carolina judge on Tuesday morning promised to issue rulings on two motions in the ACC vs. Clemson case playing out in Charlotte before those two parties face each other again next week in South Carolina in a similar case. The latest on ACC vs. Clemson lawsuit over grant of rights in Charlotte – Charlotte Observer
• An appeals court Friday rejected a request by the Atlantic Coast Conference to at least temporarily put on hold a lawsuit filed by Florida State University about media rights for athletic events and potential financial penalties if the school leaves the conference. Court refuses to halt the legal fight between FSU and the ACC – WMNF

NFL

• The NFL urged a California judge Wednesday to cancel a jury’s blockbuster $4.7 billion verdict that found it violated antitrust laws with its DirecTV Sunday Ticket package, saying the “irrational” award didn’t match any of the damages models jurors were presented and confirms that the plaintiffs failed to prove their case. NFL Moves To Undo ‘Runaway’ $4.7B Sunday Ticket Verdict – Law360

Entertainment:

MUSIC

• Two music creators say Cardi B‘s new hit “Enough (Miami)” infringed a song they wrote in 2021, telling a TX federal court that they’re entitled to a temporary and permanent restraining order barring the song from being played. Cardi B Accused of Infringement by Producers Over ‘Enough (Miami)’ (variety.com)
• Ariana Grande is suing the United States Patent and Trademark Office for registration of her proposed “One Love Manchester” charity concert trademark. USPTO Faces TM Suit From Ariana Grande Over Benefit Show – Law360

FILM & TELEVISION

• Jury selection in Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial is set to begin on July 9. Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter trial set to begin in New Mexico (nbcnews.com)
• Paramount Global agreed to merge with Skydance Media in a deal that hands control of the storied Hollywood studio to producer David Ellison, ending one of the industry’s most dramatic acquisitions. Paramount, Skydance Reach Merger Deal | Barron’s (barrons.com)
• Jimmy Kimmel wants former NY Rep. George Santos’ copyright infringement lawsuit dismissed because Santos’ claim implying creators are protected from ridicule is unsupported by the fair use doctrine, Kimmel argued in federal court filing. Kimmel Defends Bid to Beat Santos’ Cameo Copyright Dispute (1) (bloomberglaw.com)
• An NY federal judge ruled that a young producer failed to sufficiently allege HBO‘s Fake Famous and FBoy Island shows ripped off his “Instafamous” reality show concept, but the flaws in the producer’s copyright infringement allegations weren’t so bad they couldn’t be fixed. HBO Dodges Copyright Suit Over ‘FBoy Island,’ For Now – Law360
• A CA appellate court backed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by famed ‘Science Guy’ Bill Nye claiming The Walt Disney Co. cheated him out of millions for his educational television show, saying the trial judge didn’t err by deciding the accounting dispute instead of sending it to a jury. ‘Science Guy’ Bill Nye Can’t Revive Disney Royalty Fight – Law360

VIDEO GAMES

• Nintendo is now going after a Reddit poster who moderates a subreddit called “SwitchPirates” and who the video game company accuses of stocking ​​”a massive catalog of Nintendo Switch games.” Nintendo sues alleged Switch pirate pair for serious coin • The Register

MEANWHILE, IN HOLLYWOOD…

• A DE court held that some of Prince‘s family members ran afoul of an LLC agreement when they tried to oust two managing members of the late musician’s estate and give themselves more control. Delaware judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit in battle over estate of the late pop icon Prince – CBS News