K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (September 22, 2023)

Sports:

• Michigan State University informed its head football coach, Mel Tucker, in a letter of the school’s “intent to terminate” his contract for cause, citing “a body of undisputed evidence of misconduct that warrants termination” – Michigan State begins process of firing coach Mel Tucker – ESPN
• Three high-profile endorsers of the failed FTX cryptocurrency exchange – including NFL quarterback Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars – agreed to settle claims they helped dupe investors who lost billions in the meltdown of Sam Bankman-Fried’s digital-asset empire – Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence Settles FTX Endorsement Lawsuit (1) (bloomberglaw.com)
• The 2026 World Cup is to be staged across sixteen cities in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada and the venues were announced last year; however, FIFA now finds itself at the center of escalating tensions with the Kroenke family, the owners of Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium (one of the announced venues), over the terms of the agreement to be a host venue at the 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup – Kroenkes in dispute with FIFA over SoFi Stadium deal for 2026 World Cup – The Athletic
• The sale of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators is now official with the NHL announcing that the transfer of the club to a group led by Michael Andlauer has been unanimously approved by the league’s board of governors, and that the transaction has been completed. The Senators announced that Andlauer would immediately take control of the clubs operations – Sale of Senators to group led by Michael Andlauer approved – ESPN
• In another milestone in the migration of live sports coverage to streaming platforms, Max and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports announced a Bleacher Report Sports add-on tier that will allow subscribers to watch live coverage of MLB, NHL, NBA, the NCAA Tournament, and U.S. Soccer events, in addition to studio shows like “Inside the NBA,” launching October 5 and remain free for subscribers until February 29, 2024, when it cost $9.99/month – Max and Warner Bros. Discovery to offer NBA, MLB postseason and other live sports in October – The Athletic
• Professional women’s soccer is coming back to Boston with the NWSL expansion team begining play in 2026, the league and new team’s ownership group, Boston Unity Soccer Partners, formally announced the NWSL’s 15^th team – NWSL to add Boston expansion team in 2026: How it lines up with league’s growth vision – The Athletic
• Southern Methodist University (SMU) has raised more than $100 million from a small group of deep-pocketed donors in just seven days to help its transition to the ACC next year with the plan to donate more than $200 million in order to offset absent TV revenue; the school also announced that ticket sales for both basketball and football have seen marked increases since the announcement of the ACC transition – SMU raises more than $100 million in 1 week to help its ACC transition – The Athletic
• The Brandr Group LLC argued in an effort to keep its contract dispute suit alive that videogame maker Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) is attempting to muddy the waters by misrepresenting the contract agreements held by the Brandr Group so it can pay bargain prices for the name, image and likeness (NIL) of college athletes – Agency Says EA Misleading Court In NIL Video Game Suit – Law360
• Minor League Baseball teams called on the U.S. Supreme Court to unravel Major League Baseball’s century-old protections from antitrust enforcement, calling the exemption an unjustified “aberration” that no other professional sports leagues enjoy – Minor League Teams Ask Justices To Field MLB Antitrust Row – Law360
• San Diego State University can’t ditch any claims or bids for damages brought by women varsity athletes in a proposed class action accusing the school of awarding them less financial aid than varsity men athletes, a California federal judge ruled, but only the women who were enrolled as student-athletes when the complaint was launched can pursue injunctive relief – San Diego State Must Face Women Athletes’ Title IX Aid Suit – Law360
• A football player for the University of Mississippi sued the school and head football coach Lane Kiffin for $40 million, accusing them of ignoring his requests for a mental health break and worsening his depression as he recovered from injuries and the death of his grandmother – Ole Miss Hit With $40M Suit Over Player’s Mental Health – Law360
• Here’s a good, in-depth comparison of federal legislation pertaining to the name, image and likeness (“NIL”) rights of college student-athletes, including the College Athlete Economic Freedom Act and Sen. Ted Cruz’s draft bill that would restrict an athlete’s eligibility to compete if an NIL agreement violates their university’s student code of conduct – The NIL Legislation Race: CAEFA And Ted Cruz’s Draft Bill – Law360
• A professional basketball training academy filed suit in Ohio federal court seeking a temporary restraining order against one of its former vice presidents over allegations that after he left the organization, he used proprietary information to start a competing program – Basketball Academy Sues Ex-VP For Starting Rival Program – Law360

Entertainment:

• Rapper T.I. and his wife were granted a third trial in their $100 million intellectual property suit over a line of MGA Entertainment dolls when a California federal judge held that the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Jack Daniel’s ruling meant jurors had been erroneously instructed – Rapper T.I., Tiny Harris Granted 3rd Doll IP Trial Against MGA – Law360
• Four purported members of a “digital art collective” sued their estranged business partner in Delaware’s Court of Chancery, accusing him of seizing control of operations, pushing them out of the venture, defaming them online, and misappropriating more than $2.3 million in digital assets – Digital Art Cohort Sues In Del. Over Alleged NFT, Crypto Theft – Law360
• Investors looking to collect on a half-billion-dollar arbitral award against a Chinese cinema magnate have told a New York federal judge that the man’s wife must not hide discovery necessary to collect on the judgment, saying she can’t rely upon her legal protections as a spouse – Investors Urge Discovery Of Movie Mogul’s Wife In Award Spat – Law360
• Trading card company Panini has swept WWE into its fray with rival online retailer Fanatics, suing the wrestling entertainment organization in New York federal court over allegations it breached its contract by ending a partnership with Panini years before expiration without warning or valid justification – WWE Sued For Early Termination Of Trading Card Contract – Law360
• OpenAI Inc. is facing more infringement allegations that the artificial intelligence research company is using protected works to train its generative AI product, ChatGPT, after a professional writer’s organization and a dozen best-selling authors filed a proposed copyright class action against it – More Writers Sue OpenAI Alleging ChatGPT Infringes Their IP – Law360
• A fashion designer who created custom pieces for Lizzo’s dancers on tour claims she was threatened, denied medical care, and subjected to racial and sexual harassment while on the job, according to a new lawsuit lodged against the Grammy-winning pop star and her touring company – Designer Alleges Racism, Threats Backstage On Lizzo Tour – Law360