Man Sues Jay Z and Kanye for Stealing “Made in America”

A musician named Joel Mac filed a copyright infringement suit in New York federal court, claiming that the hip-hop musicians Jay Z, Kanye, and Frank Ocean stole his song.

According to the complaint, Mac allegedly sold a CD containing his 2009 song titled “Made in America” to Mike Dean, one of the producers of Jay Z’s “Watch the Throne” album in 2011 outside a New York hotel where the hip-hop musicians were recording part of the album.  Later, when the album was released, Mac discovered …

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Hollywood’s “Raging Bull” Takes on a Small Town: De Niro Fights Property Assessment

Approximately 80 miles from New York is Gardiner, a small town of about 5,800 residents in Ulster County. It might seem an unexpected place for Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro to own property, but in 1997 the star of “Raging Bull” and “Taxi Driver” purchased 78 acres for $1.5 million. And now it is the site of a headline-making legal battle involving a multimillion-dollar tax assessment.

The property is owned for De Niro and his family by a legal entity called the Riverside Trust. …

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FCC Asked to Block Renewal of TV Licenses for Use of Word “Redskins”

The broadcast licenses of two Los Angeles TV stations have been challenged for their use of the name “Redskins” on air.

Four Native Americans filed petitions with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) asking it to deny license renewals for Fox-owned KTTV and NBC-owned KNBC-TV.  Three petitions were filed against KTTV, a station which broadcasts Redskins football games, on October 31.  The KNBC petition was filed on November 3, just in time for the deadline on such petitions.  All four were filed with the assistance of …

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Concussion Class Action Suit Filed Against the NCAA by Former Texas Football Player

On Monday, October 27, a former Texas Longhorn football player filed a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA for failing to warn and protect student-athletes regarding the long-term effects of concussions and impacts to the head sustained during football games.

The lead plaintiff, Julius Whittier, was an offensive lineman for the Longhorns from 1969-72.  Whittier allegedly sustained several severe hits to the head throughout his career there.  The former player, now 64 years old, was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease in August of 2012.  He …

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“Blurred Lines” Copyright Suit Set to Go to Trial

On Thursday, October 30, a California District Judge denied Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams’ motion for summary judgment to end the suit revolving around their song “Blurred Lines.”

The recording artist and his producer went on the offensive in August 2013 by filing a lawsuit seeking declaratory relief to protect their song “Blurred Lines” from Bridgeport Music and Marvin Gaye’s children, who were threatening their own actions claiming copyright violations.  The plaintiffs filed a motion for summary judgment to end the lawsuit in their favor …

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Stan Lee Media Holds No Ownership of Stan Lee’s Characters According to 9th Circuit

On Wednesday, October 29, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied the appeal of Stan Lee Media Inc. from an order dismissing its case against namesake and founder Stan Lee.

The underlying suit, filed by the corporation, was to recover revenue generated by the characters Iron Man, Spider Man, and others.  Stan Lee Media was originally formed by Stan Lee in 1998 when he left Marvel Comics.  Stan Lee has since returned to Marvel and the corporation filed for bankruptcy.  The corporation claims …

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WWE Becomes Latest Sports League to Face Concussion Litigation

On Thursday, October 23, Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Entertainment was added to the growing list of sports organizations facing concussion related litigation.  William Albert Haynes III, a former WWE wrestler, brought suit against the corporation with allegations similar to many other concussion lawsuits: that the WWE concealed and denied the medical research showing the effects of head trauma.

Haynes, known by his stage name “Billy Jack Haynes,” makes claims that follow most other concussion lawsuits claiming negligent misrepresentation, negligence, and liability for …

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Pepsi: $2B “Aunt Jemima” Lawsuit Frivolous

Calling the suit frivolous, Pepsi and a subsidiary of Pepsi, Quaker Oats, asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit.  The lawsuit was brought pro se in August this year by the great grandchildren of Anna Short Harrington, who appeared as Aunt Jemima.  The plaintiffs seek $2 billion in punitive damages for, among others, alleged violation of right of publicity, breach of contract, promissory fraud, and conspiracy.

The lawsuit claimed that Nancy Green, the first Aunt Jemima, and Harrington formulated the self-rising pancake mix and …

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BBC Sues over “Dancing With the Stars” Knock-off

British Broadcasting Company (“BBC”) brought a suit against Scott Stander & Associates (“Scott Stander”) in California federal court claiming that its rights to the popular “Dancing with the Stars” (“DWTS”) program have been infringed.  Scott Stander is the producer of a live stage show called “Ballroom with a Twist” (“BWAT”) featuring dancers from “Dancing with the Stars.”

According to the complaint, Scott Stander has advertised its show as “the national-tour spinoff of ‘Dancing with the Stars’” and “a non-competitive spinoff.”  Further, the complaint claimed that …

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Darren Sharper Loses Workers’ Compensation Claim Bid Against the New Orleans Saints

Although likely paling in comparison to his recent criminal investigation concerns, former NFL safety Darren Sharper’s legal woes continued as he had a workers’ compensation claim partially-dismissed by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal of Louisiana.

Sharper, a former player for the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings prior to retiring after a stint with New Orleans Saints in 2011, sustained a left knee injury during a November 8, 2009 football game that was subsequently aggravated in December 2009.  Sharper missed the last game of …

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