K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (May 5, 2023)

Sports:

• The NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury signed a new television broadcast contract with an over-the-air pair of Arizona networks, moving the franchises away from their previous game coverage deal with a Bally’s-branded regional sports network owned by bankrupt Diamond Sports Group – Diamond Sports Bankruptcy Setback : Phoenix Suns And Mercury Bailing From RSN (forbes.com)
• Following the Phoenix Suns’ new TV broadcast deal, Diamond Sports Group filed an adversary action in a Texas bankruptcy court aiming to stop the Suns and Mercury from moving forward with the new television broadcast contract that they signed with a pair of over-the-air Arizona networks – Phoenix Suns New TV Deal Draws Lawsuit From Diamond – Sportico.com
• Snoop Dogg looks to expand his empire beyond music by joining Neko Sparks’ bid to purchase the NHL’s Ottawa Senators – Snoop Dogg joins Neko Sparks’ bid to buy Ottawa Senators – ESPN
• The NCAA asked a California federal judge to deny class certification to hundreds of college athletes suing it for name, image and likeness (NIL) rights insisting that the members have “substantial differences” in their circumstances that cannot be represented in one class, especially when billions of dollars in broadcast revenues to the institutions are factored in – NCAA Blasts NIL Damage Claim, Opposes Class Certification – Law360
• In a further attempt to avoid disclosing information, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund that owns LIV Golf told the Ninth Circuit that it is within its rights to immediately appeal a lower-court ruling compelling discovery in the antitrust suit between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour – Saudi Wealth Fund Fights PGA Bid To Toss Subpoena Appeal – Law360
• The payout from the historic $185 million class-action settlement agreed between roughly 24,000 Minor League Baseball players and MLB and approved by the court in March has now been held up by motions from two attorneys seeking to adjust the terms of the settlement agreement – MLB’s $185 million payout in minor league lawsuit on hold, for now – The Athletic
• The attorneys general of California and New York have launched a probe into whether the NFL has violated equal pay laws and fostered a work environment that’s hostile to women and minorities – Attorneys General James and Bonta to Investigate the NFL’s Treatment of Women – The New York Times
• A former employee of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons launched a lawsuit in Michigan state court alleging that the team’s assistant general manager, Rob Murphy, relentlessly sexually harassed her for months, including groping her and saying he wanted to “put a baby in her,” and the team took no action – Pistons, ex-exec Murphy named in sex harassment lawsuit | AP News
• A coalition of 17 states, plus religious, political and women’s athletic groups, told the Fourth Circuit that allowing transgender women to participate in women’s sports would destroy the protections established by Title IX that have served female athletes and students – Coalition Urges 4th Circ. To Back Transgender Sports Ban – Law360

Entertainment:

• Ed Sheeran was victorious in a closely watched trial in New York over allegations that his 2014 Grammy-winning song “Thinking Out Loud” copied key musical elements from Marvin Gaye’s classic 1973 soul groove “Let’s Get It On” – Ed Sheeran Cleared of Mimicking Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ (bloomberglaw.com)
• The board of the municipal authority appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis overseeing Walt Disney Co.’s Florida parks sued Disney, claiming Disney violated state law in trying to ward off the board’s efforts to govern park operations – DeSantis Board Sues Disney After Company Retaliation Lawsuit (1) (bloomberglaw.com)
• Adding another layer to the bitter legal jostling between Disney and Desantis, hats sold at a Desantis event bearing the Disney’s trademarked script may implicate intellectual property dispute – DeSantis Taunt in Disney Typeface Tempts Trademark Punchback (bloomberglaw.com)
• Thousands of Hollywood screenwriters represented by the Writers Guild of America took to the picket lines over concerns about staffing levels and compensation from studios and streaming platforms after the parties failed to reach a new deal before their labor contract expired – Late-night TV shows go dark as writers strike for better pay | AP News
• The Ninth Circuit has given Epic and Apple an extra month to seek rehearing after an appeals panel upheld a lower court’s finding that Apple’s App Store policies don’t violate federal antitrust law but do violate California’s unfair competition law – Epic And Apple Get More Time To Seek 9th Circ. Rehearing – Law360
• A former OpenSea manager was found guilty by a Manhattan federal jury of charges that he fraudulently took $57,000 of secret profits by selling digital art that rose in value when featured on the homepage of the non-fungible token (NFT) purveyor – Former OpenSea Manager Convicted in First NFT Insider Trading Case – ARTnews.com