On Dec. 1, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Cox Communications Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment. The case turned on whether Internet Service Providers could be “contributorily liable for copyright infringement, when the provider knew that specific subscribers were using its service to flagrantly infringe and continued to supply those repeat infringers with service.”
Matthew McConaughey secured eight federal trademark registrations covering his voice and iconic catchphrases in a novel legal strategy aimed at combating AI’s unauthorized use of his voice and likeness. The move signals an important evolution in the power dynamics between talent/brands and the companies providing generative AI tools.
After nearly two decades of separation from the business that bore his name, golf legend Jack Nicklaus has reclaimed ownership of his brand and the iconic “Golden Bear” trademark, marking a significant legal and commercial victory following a protracted dispute and bankruptcy proceedings involving his former company.
Notable recent court filings in entertainment law.
Key insights from a panel discussion during this year’s South by Southwest conference in Austin, where speakers weighed the impact of a landmark music industry verdict and what comes next for a sector awash with artificial intelligence.
A look at moves among attorneys, law firms, companies and other players in entertainment law.
New York is one of the first states to adopt laws to regulate artificial intelligence use in advertising and to strengthen post-mortem publicity rights regarding AI-generated replicas and “synthetic performers.” Given the state’s role as a bellwether for consumer-protection and advertising regulation, these new laws, combined with the state’s broader AI legislative framework, represent a shift toward transparency, consent and accountability.
Matthew McConaughey secured eight federal trademark registrations covering his voice and iconic catchphrases in a novel legal strategy aimed at combating AI’s unauthorized use of his voice and likeness. The move signals an important evolution in the power dynamics between talent/brands and the companies providing generative AI tools.
Agreements among band members typically provide for who owns rights in a music group’s name when a founding member leaves and/or a new member joins. But what if there’s no intra-band agreement covering these scenarios? The two recent court decisions in this article offer potential outcomes.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics, the emergence of NIL (name, image and likeness) deals has introduced a host of new complexities. This January, a pair of very public transfer disputes (both, coincidentally, involving highly rated quarterbacks) brought the growing tension between athlete autonomy and institutional interests to the fore.
