On Friday, June 5, an Illinois federal judge ruled that Michael Jordan can continue his right of publicity suit against Jewel Food Stores, Inc. The lawsuit arose out of an ad featured in a special edition of Sports Illustrated following Jordan’s induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The ad featured text that congratulated Jordan on his induction, a pair of basketball shoes portraying the iconic number 23 that Jordan wore during his playing days, and Jewel-Osco’s logo with the slogan “Good Things …
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North Carolina Going South: NCAA Brings Five Charges Against University
On Thursday, June 4, the NCAA brought five charges against the University of North Carolina as a result of approximately 3,000 students having had their grades inflated through faulty courses. The charges were broad, rather than sport-specific, and dealt with the improper benefits that student athletes received through the formerly named African and Afro-American (AFAM) Studies department. The five charges are considered potential Level I violations, and the athletic director stated that it is too early in the process to speculate on potential sanctions the …
Continue ReadingNFL Concussion Lawsuit: Six Players Drop Out
In a recent development, six former NFL players involved in the NFL concussion lawsuit filed notices of voluntary dismissal without prejudice. The notices were filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The players included former L.A. Rams and Houston Oilers offensive guard Kent Hill, former Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and Pittsburg Steelers tight end Anthony “Tony” Cline Jr.; former Baltimore Colts, New Orleans Saints, and Miami Dolphins linebacker Edward Simonini; former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Randy Ragon; former Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots …
Continue ReadingEnding in a Tie: MLB Advanced Media, Orostream Settle Patent Suit Over Mobile App
On Wednesday, June 3, U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap granted a stipulated dismissal of claims between plaintiff Orostream LLC and MLB Advanced Media. Orostream filed suit in February in the Eastern District of Texas, alleging patent infringement in regards to the MLB.TV mobile app. According to Orostream, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office had issued it a patent in October 1998 titled “Computer Network System and Method for Efficient Information Transfer,” and MLB Advanced Media was repeatedly infringing upon it.
In the complaint, Orostream alleged …
Continue ReadingMixing Up Trouble: Sir Mix-A-Lot Argues Tardiness on DJ’s Copyright Claim
On Tuesday, June 2, Sir Mix-A-Lot spoke out against a lawsuit over copyright authorship brought by his former partner, declaring that the suit comes roughly two decades too late. David Ford, Mix-A-Lot’s former partner and DJ, filed suit in March in Washington federal court, claiming that he had no idea until recently that Mix-A-Lot had filed copyright registration for several songs as the sole author. Mix-A-Lot is moving to dismiss the suit, arguing that it is impossible that twenty years went by before Ford realized …
Continue ReadingNCAA Athletes Lose the Big One: Judge Dismisses Publicity Rights Lawsuit Against Broadcasters
On Thursday, June 4, a Tennessee federal judge dismissed a putative class action filed by ten former college athletes who accused major TV broadcasters and others of improperly profiting from the use of their names and likenesses. U.S. District Judge Kevin Sharp granted a motion to dismiss with prejudice, ruling that the plaintiffs failed to prove their case under Tennessee law. He explained that the Tennessee Personal Rights Protection Act only protects a person’s name and likeness when used in advertisements, and that Tennessee common …
Continue ReadingHome Ice Advantage: Blackhawks Apparel Prohibited in Parts of Amalie Stadium
Rules directed towards away-team supporters in Tampa Bay Lightning’s Amalie Stadium have sparked controversy and raised First Amendment concerns for some. Fans in Amalie Stadium are prohibited from wearing away-team apparel in exclusive club seating areas. Those areas account for approximately 1,400 seats out of the arena’s 20,500 total. Also, in order to purchase tickets, fans must use a credit card associated with a Florida zip code.
Bill Wicket, executive vice president of communication for the Tampa Bay Lightning, commented on the restrictions: “[d]uring …
Continue ReadingConcussion Litigation Onslaught: NHL Faces Another Lawsuit From A Former Athlete
On Monday, June 1, former Chicago Blackhawks center and Tampa Bay Lighting coach Steve Ludzik initiated a lawsuit in Federal Court, alleging that the NHL had failed to warn players such as himself of the risk of long-term neurological damage associated with repeated head injury.
Ludzik is represented by Chicago law firm Corboy & Demetrio; the same law firm representing the estates of former NHL player Steve Montador and former NFL player Dave Duerson. He suffers from Parkinson’s disease, which he alleges is a result …
Continue ReadingShort, Sweet, and Scandalous: FIFA President Blatter Resigns Days After Re-election
On Tuesday, June 2, FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced that he would resign his position at a sudden press conference at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich. Blatter, who was just re-elected to a fifth term on Friday, May 29, explained that he would continue to carry out the functions as the head of FIFA until a new election occurs. With FIFA’s next congress scheduled for May 2016, a special meeting of FIFA’s member nations will be held to elect a new president. Pursuant to FIFA’s rules, …
Continue ReadingFlag on the Play: NFL, AP Urge Court to Close Book on Photographers’ Antitrust Suit
On Friday, May 29, the National Football League and the Associated Press told a New York federal court that the seven photographers bringing a copyright and antitrust suit had lost their right to file a revised complaint. In March, U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet dismissed the photographers’ claims, but gave them twenty days to file a new complaint. The parties then agreed to a three-week extension for the amended pleadings to be filed, but the photographers failed to meet the May 11 deadline.
Rather …
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