K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (March 26, 2024)

Sports:

• Major League Baseball announced Friday that it has opened an investigation following allegations involving Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, who has been at the center of a potential theft and sports betting scandal this week. MLB opens investigation after allegations that Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter was involved in gambling scandal – NBC News
• Five golfers filed a class-action lawsuit this week against the city of Los Angeles, alleging that officials failed to rein in a bustling black market in tee times at municipal golf courses. Golfers sue city of L.A., calling out failure to stop black market in tee times – LA Times
• A Texas federal court has refused to toss a suit accusing Varsity Spirit of working with competitive cheerleading governance bodies to boycott potential rivals and maintain its dominance over the sport. Cheerleading Giant Varsity Spirit Must Face Antitrust Suit – Law360
• A Florida state court judge on Friday allowed the sale of a house owned by ex-Boston Red Sox outfielder Rusney Castillo to go forward over the objection of a sports managing company, which accused the baseball player of fraudulent transfer in order to avoid a $3 million judgment against him. Judge Allows Sale Of Ex-MLBer’s House In Fraud Suit – Law360
• Canadian investment bank MNC Capital Partners on Monday upped its proposed takeover bid of Vista Outdoor Inc. by approximately $1 billion after the company rejected its initial offer, now offering roughly $3 billion to purchase the sporting and outdoor products company. MNC Capital Ups Vista Outdoor Takeover Bid To $3B – Law360

Entertainment:

MUSIC

• The 4^th Circuit will not reconsider its decision to vacate a $1 billion verdict against Cox Communications for allowing piracy on its networks despite neither side being happy with its ruling. Cox, music labels lose bid for new appeal in billion-dollar copyright case | Reuters
• CA appellate justices upheld Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London’s summary judgment win against heavy metal band Metallica‘s breach suit seeking coverage for shows canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic, siding with the lower court’s order finding the policy’s communicable disease exclusion precluded coverage as a matter of law. METALLICA Loses Lawsuit Against Insurance Company Over Cancelled Shows (metalinjection.net)

FILM & TELEVISION

• Alec Baldwin was offered a lenient plea deal in the Rust shooting case, but NM state prosecutors withdrew the offer before the deadline to accept or reject the deal expired, the actor claimed in unsealed court filings. Alec Baldwin Was Offered Lenient Plea, But Prosecutors Withdrew It (variety.com)
• Private equity firm Apollo Global Management has offered $11 billion to buy Paramount Global’s film and TV studio. Apollo offers $11 bln for Paramount’s Hollywood studio, source says | Reuters
• A CA federal judge has kept alive a visual effects company’s patent infringement claims alleging The Walt Disney Co. unlawfully used its technology to create iconic Marvel film characters, such as Thanos and the Hulk, but once again tossed its claims of copyright infringement. Disney Can’t Slip Patent Claims In Suit Over Thanos VFX Tech – Law360

ART

• The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts has agreed to pay photographer Lynn Goldsmith about $21,500 to settle a dispute that reached the U.S. Supreme Court last year, with the justices holding in a landmark ruling that Warhol’s silkscreens of music icon Prince, based on a Goldsmith photo, were not fair use. Warhol Foundation to pay photographer $21,000 as dispute over Prince portraits ends (theartnewspaper.com)
• TN Gov. Bill Lee signed into law a first-of-its-kind legislation intended to tackle misuse of AI by modifying a state law banning unauthorized copies of artists’ works to cover musicians, their voices and their songs. Tennessee becomes first state to protect musicians, other artists against AI | AP News
• Artists suing Stability AI, Midjourney, DeviantArt and Runway AI urged a CA federal court to keep their proposed class action alive, telling a judge who dismissed most of their copyright claims that their amended complaint withstands the defendants’ arguments for dismissal. Artists Fight Image Generator Cos.’ Bid To End Copyright Suit – Law360
• The U.S. Copyright Office was within its rights to refuse registration to an artist after finding that his sculpture “lacks the necessary level of creativity to warrant copyright protection,” a D.C. federal judge ruled, finding that the Copyright Office didn’t err in its analysis of the sculpture. Copyright Office Prevails In British Sculptor’s Challenge – Law360

MEANWHILE, IN HOLLYWOOD…

• The ex-girlfriend of Marvel actor Jonathan Majors lodged assault, defamation, and malicious prosecution claims against him, claiming that he launched a campaign to ruin her reputation after she spoke out about his alleged physical and verbal abuse. Jonathan Majors Accused of Assault and Defamation in Lawsuit by Ex-Girlfriend – The New York Times (nytimes.com)