LATEST INSIGHTS

Copyright / Intellectual Property, Copyright, and Trademark

Seth MacFarlane Sued for Stealing Teddy Bear Idea for the Hit Movie Ted

Bengal Mangle Productions (“Bengal”) filed a copyright infringement suit against Seth MacFarlane, the creator of the 2012 hit comedy Ted.  The complaint alleged MacFarlane stole the idea of a foul-mouthed teddy bear living in an adult human world from a similar character named Charlie in Bengal’s 2008 screenplay Acting School Academy.

Bengal described the Charlie character as one that “lives in a human, adult world with all human friends. Charlie has a penchant for drinking, smoking, prostitutes, and is a generally vulgar yet humorous …

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Litigation

Former Dictator Learns from Lindsay Lohan about Publicity Rights

Manuel Noriega, the former military dictator of Panama, must have learned about Lindsay Lohan’s latest lawsuit from his prison cell in Panama.  Like Lohan who alleged misappropriation of her names, images, and likeness by a video game maker, Noriega filed a suit against Activision over 2012 popular first-person shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops II which, according to Noriega, features his image and likeness without his permission.

The complaint claimed the character in the game is repeatedly referred to by name and also as Noriega’s …

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Defamation / NFL

Former NFL Punter to Sue the Vikings for Discrimination

On Tuesday July 15, former Minnesota Vikings punter, Chris Kluwe, stated he intends to sue his former team, claiming religious discrimination, sexual-orientation discrimination, defamation, and tortious interference with contractual relations for his release from the team in 2013.

Kluwe spoke out this past January in a Deadspin.com article about his unexpected release.  The article posits his support of  same-sex marriage and other social issues as being central to his dismissal from the Vikings and claims that special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer (who has since admitted to …

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Doping / Litigation / MLB

A-Rod Listens to Ex-Con over His Law Firm

Alex Rodriguez is being sued by his lawyer, David Cornwell, for over $380,000 in unpaid legal fees.  Cornwell, a prominent sports attorney, acted as legal counsel for A-Rod during his Biogenesis doping suspension scandal.  Apparently he wasn’t the only one giving A-Rod  legal advice.

Cornwell filed a complaint on Monday demanding the payment as well as prejudgment interest and attorney fees.  The complaint stated Rodriguez refused to pay the amount, relying on the advice of ex-con Desiree Perez who was arrested in1994 for intent to …

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Litigation / MLB

California Jury Tells Dodgers: Make the Ball Park Safer

A California jury awarded about $18 million in damages for Bryan Stow who was left permanently disabled after beaten by two men at the Dodgers stadium parking lot in 2011.  Of the total judgment, the Dodgers share would be about $15 million while The Los Angeles Times reported the number to be $13.9 million.  The jury determined the baseball team was 100% liable for Stow’s economic losses including lost wages and medical bills but 25% liable for pain and suffering.

The Dodgers attorneys argued that …

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Contract

Miss America Organization Sued for Being Stingy

Wednesday, July 2, The Buckeye Group, a business development company based in Beverly Hills, filed a complaint against The Miss America Organization in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey, alleging breach of contract.

In the complaint, Buckeye alleges that Miss America has failed to make good on contractually owed minimum payments to the business stimulation team.  Since 2009, Buckeye has been helping The Miss America Organization restore its financial health and reclaim its cultural significance within the fabric of American society.  …

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Concussions / NFL

Judge Gives Preliminary Approval to Revised Concussion Settlement

Presiding Judge Anita Brody in the NFL concussion suit gave a preliminary approval of the revised settlement deal that lifts a compensation cap imposed on damages.  Judge Brody wrote,

“A class action settlement that offers prompt relief is superior to the likely alternative — years of expensive, difficult and uncertain litigation, with no assurance of recovery, while retired players’ physical and mental conditions continue to deteriorate,”

In a statement, NFL Senior V.P. Anastasia Danias said,  “We will work with plaintiffs’ counsel to provide notice to …

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Litigation

Details of the Keller Settlement Submitted for Approval

A proposed settlement filed on June 30 could allow up to $20,000 for several football and men’s basketball players whose names, images, and likenesses were used in NCAA-themed video games.  The filing contains the details of a $20 million deal announced in early June between the NCAA and the plaintiffs led by Sam Keller, a former Arizona State and Nebraska football player.  The proposed terms are closely related to the previously announced $40 million settlement by EA Sports and Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) that would …

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NCAA

NCAA Steps into the Northwestern Union Debate

The NCAA filed an amicus brief on behalf of Northwestern to reverse a decision from a regional National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that ruled the school’s football players are university employees.  The filing followed briefs submitted by Northwestern  and six Republican members of Congress in support of the university.

The debate is still ongoing since the NLRB allowed the university to appeal the regional board’s decision.  If the NLRB affirms, the case could go before federal court.  Meanwhile, the voting results of  Northwestern football players …

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Litigation

Lindsay Lohan Sues “Grand Theft Auto” Makers

 

On Wednesday, July 2, famed actress Lindsay Lohan filed suit in a Manhattan court against Take-Two Interactive, the makers of  the “Grand Theft Auto” videogame series.  Lohan alleges that the latest game contains a character bearing her image and scandalous character.

 

The character, Lacey Jonas, from “Grand Theft Auto V,” is an in-game celebrity that players help along on missions.  Lohan claims this character is a re-creation of her image, voice, and clothing-line styles.  The game also features a mission where the character …

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