If You’re Not First, You’re Last: IMG’s Summons Not Enough to Dismiss Pitt’s Suit

A sports marketing firm, IMG College LLC, and the University of Pittsburgh are suing each other as a result of a contract dispute. The contract granted IMG rights to broadcast and market some of Pitt’s sports teams. Now, they are both suing each other for money owed.

IMG’s summons alleges it is entitled to $4 million from the university under the contract’s buyout clause. Conversely, Pitt’s complaint alleges that IMG owes it $3.6 million for unpaid royalties and other payments. The point of contention is …

November 9, 2017 Litigation

WWE Asserts Wrestler Admitted to Attorney Solicitation in Podcast

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE) made another move on November 6, 2017, to further its allegations that attorney Matthew Peterson solicited Marcus “Buff” Bagwell and Scott “Raven” Levy to file suit against WWE for royalties. WWE made a motion to compel phone call records and information that was allegedly improperly redacted from the phone records previously given to WWE in discovery.

WWE focused on an interview Bagwell had last year on the podcast “Pancakes and Powerslams” where he stated he would not have sued WWE …

November 1, 2017 Litigation

WWE Alleges Attorney Improperly Solicited Wrestlers in Royalty Suit

On October 27, 2017, World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE) accused attorney Matthew Peterson of soliciting former wrestlers to join a royalty suit against WWE. WWE requested the court compel Peterson to provide documents and testimony that were previously denied under claims of privilege and improper instructions not to answer questions during the deposition. Specifically, WWE seeks a March 2016 email from Peterson to plaintiff Scott “Raven” Levy, and the same plaintiff to testify about a meeting with co-plaintiff Marcus “Buff” Bagwell.

The lawsuits filed by …

August 15, 2016 Litigation

“Buff” Bagwell Sues WWE for Royalties

Former professional wrestler Marcus “Buff” Bagwell sued World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE) on Tuesday, August 9, alleging Bagwell and other wrestlers were denied royalties by WWE. Specifically, the proposed class action suit claims WWE sold pay-per-view content and matches through the WWE Network, a Netflix-type streaming service for fans, and breached contracts with the wrestlers by not paying royalties.

Bagwell claims his World Championship Wrestling (WCW) contract stated he would receive royalties for pay-per-view videos he appeared in through video cassettes, discs, and CD-ROMs, as …

April 8, 2016 Litigation

Former Wrestler and WWE Spar Over Royalties

Pro wrestler Rene Goguen brought a class action law suit against World Wrestling Entertainment in Connecticut federal court on Wednesday, April 6, 2016. This suit arises just days after WrestleMania, WWE’s biggest event of the year. The complaint alleges that wrestlers should be paid royalties from streaming services, such as the World Wrestling Entertainment Network (WWEN) and Netflix.

WWE’s outside counsel, Jerry McDevitt, is not concerned, stating the complaint lacks merit. According to McDevitt, Goguen and other wrestlers signed contracts which preclude the wrestlers from …

March 21, 2014 Contract / Music

Federal Judge Rules on Pandora/ASCAP Dispute Over Streaming Revenue

Internet radio company Pandora Media has been engaged in litigation with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (“ASCAP”) over how much Pandora should be required to pay the society in exchange for Pandora’s right to stream copyrighted music online. A recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote declared that Pandora would be required to continue paying a rate of 1.85% of its revenue to the ASCAP through 2015 – the same rate Pandora has been paying for years.

ASCAP viewed Judge Cote’s …

June 28, 2013 Contract

‘Thriller’ in the Courtroom: Former Jacksons Lawyer Sues Sony

The Jackson family is the topic for discussion in the courtroom these days. The family’s trial against AEG for negligently hiring Dr. Conrad Murray continues. Meanwhile, on Monday, June 17, 2013, former lawyer and manager for “The Jackson Five,” Richard Arons, filed suit in California Superior Court against Sony Music Entertainment (Sony).

Arons claims that Sony owes him royalties for recorded music Michael and his brothers made prior to 1983. Among other things, Arons is suing for breach of contract and improper accounting.

Arons became …

NFL, Baltimore Ravens Object to Court-Designed Royalties in Logo Case

The Baltimore Ravens and the National Football League are asking the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse the December 2012 decision of a Maryland federal judge in a long-running copyright dispute with Franklin Bouchat. The decision at issue entered an injunction that prevents the Ravens and the NFL from selling or showing clips in which the old “Flying B” logo is visible. The injunction does allow the two entities to use the logo, but, if they do, they must first pay Bouchat royalties. The …

Pandora Opens Box of Copyright Issues with Proposal to Congress

Over one hundred artists signed an open letter to be published in this weekend’s Billboard Magazine, making it abundantly clear that they oppose Pandora’s stance on The Internet Radio Fairness Act, which would decrease the royalty rates paid by Internet radio companies. Signees include crowd favorites such as Katy Perry, Rihanna, Pink Floyd, Jimmy Buffett and Billy Joel. The artists grouped together to ask Pandora why they are begging Congress to step in and “gut the royalties that thousands of musicians rely upon” when they …