Entertainment and Sports Law

The European Commission has charged Valve Corp., the owner of Steam video-game distribution platform, and five video-game publishers with breaking European Union (EU) competition rules through their use of geoblocking, which restricts access to digital content on a territorial basis.

Rick Ross Defeats Trademark Suit over Mastermind Album
TV Host's Course of Conduct During Life Bars Estate From Getting His IP and Publicity Rights

New York State Bar Association Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section Annual Spring Meeting

Only days after winning dismissal of an anti-trust lawsuit over its 2019 move to a new location in Miami, FL, for the Ultra Music Festival, Worldwide Entertainment lost its bid to reopen a court case over use of the "Ultra Music" brand for a festival overseas.

A unanimous U.S. Supreme Court, led by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, held that the phrase “full costs” in §505 of the Copyright Act means all of the costs specifically enumerated in the general cost-shifting statutes, such as transcripts and fees for court-appointed experts and interpreters.

The Supreme Court had granted cert in Fourth Estate to resolve a split in the federal circuit courts as to whether §411(a) of the Copyright Act could be read to allow commencement of an infringement action once a registration application filed with the Copyright Office is complete (the “application approach”) or, instead, only (subject to limited statutorily specified exceptions) upon issuance by the Copyright Office of the registration (the “registration approach”).

Under the agreement, the studios and Sky UK will open up pay-TV markets, allowing consumers across the European Union to access to a wider range of content regardless of their location.

“What started off as a jam-packed week of parties, concerts, and watching renowned rappers mixing new music tracks in the waning days of summer abruptly ended with Norris Gresham being dragged down a flight of 30 stairs and viciously pistol whipped in front of a crowd of onlookers.”