Features
NY High Court Sees Right of Publicity Claim in Avatars but Rules Against Celebrity Plaintiffs
<i><b>Legislature Considers Publicity Law Update</b></i><p>Ruling in a matter of first impression, New York's high court dismissed suits filed by Lindsay Lohan and the daughter of ex-mobster Sammy “The Bull” Gravano against the makers of Grand Theft Auto V, by disagreeing with the plaintiff's claims that characters in the game were intended to be their look-alikes.
Features
Indiana Supreme Court to Decide Fantasy Sports Publicity Rights Issue
The Supreme Court of Indiana accepted a certified question from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit involving the interpretation of the state's right-of-publicity statute.
Features
Why Second Circuit Found No Fair Use in 'TVEyes' Case
Only a small fraction of television news broadcasts are made available online. For a party to monitor and view all news coverage of an event, it would essentially have to watch and record all news broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That's exactly what media-monitoring service TVEyes did. Fox News filed suit against TVEyes, claiming copyright infringement of 19 of its hour-long programs and alleging that TVEyes would divert Fox News's viewership and its ability to license its news clips to third parties.
Features
De Havilland's Loss in Docudrama Portrayal Suit
The California Court of Appeal created some First Amendment breathing room for the creators of docudramas — at the expense of legendary actress Olivia de Havilland — when the court ordered her suit against FX Networks over its Emmy Award-winning miniseries Feud be stricken under California's anti-SLAPP law, even if it did play a little fast-and-loose with de Havilland's character.
Features
Co-Writer Files Royalties Suit Against Iglesias
The title of Julio Iglesias's hit song “Me Olvide de Vivir” translates to “I Had Forgotten to Live.” But a Miami songwriter's copyright infringement lawsuit suggests the only thing the famed crooner “forgot” was to pay his collaborator.
Features
Ex-Wife Entitled to Payment from Script Settlement
Settlement proceeds from a writers' dispute involving the film <i>Olympus Has Fallen</i> must be further divided pursuant to one of the writer's divorce agreements, the Pennsylvania Superior Court has ruled.
Columns & Departments
Bit Parts
Rule 12(b)(6) Motion Denied in Infringement Dispute over Anastasia Musical, Due to “Lengthy Historical Record” Involving Central Character<br>
Columns & Departments
Upcoming Event
New York State Bar Association Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section Annual Spring Meeting
Features
'Graffiti' Artists Prevail Under VARA Over Property Owner
The culturally conscious property owner may be interested in commissioning an artist to beautify the outdoor wall of the owner's warehouse space. However, it's important to understand the legal effect of commissioning such work and the scope of rights that the property owner acquires and surrenders as a result.
Features
<i>Decision of Note:</i> Live Nation Can't Force Arbitration over Online Ticketing Site
Agreeing to arbitration was supposed to be as easy as clicking a button, but Live Nation was unable to show that a man seeking to sue the company actually clicked any of the buttons indicating his consent to arbitrate.
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