Judge Dismisses Most Claims over 'Final' Jackson Tour
A federal judge in Manhattan said "Beat It" to most counts in a $300 million suit filed against Michael Jackson's estate, Jackson's ex-manager, Frank Dileo, and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) over promotional rights to the comeback tour the King of Pop was planning prior to his death last summer.
Social Gaming Is Battleground over 'Fast Following'
Litigation in the social gaming sector features young companies vying for position in a lucrative and fast-growing market where copycat games and employee poaching are commonplace. Social gaming is expected to contribute more than $800 million this year to the $1.6 billion virtual goods market. Legal questions continue to surround the sector's ubiquitous practice of "fast following" ' quickly copying competitors' successful gaming concepts.
Movers & Shakers
Morris, Manning & Martin (Atlanta): Holly A. Pierson has joined the firm's health care and commercial litigation practices as of counsel to the Atlanta office. Pierson will focus on health care fraud, whistleblower actions, identity theft, mortgage fraud, environmental issues and public corruption. Dilworth Paxson (Philadelphia): Eleanor "Ellie" D. Thompson has joined the firm's health care group as Of Counsel. Thompson will be assisting clients with health care issues and in preparations for the new health…
Entertainer Not Liable for Injured Security Guard
The Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, reinstated a jury verdict that dismissed a complaint against an entertainer who shoved a security guard, injured as a result, during a performance at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City.
<b><i>Commentary:</b></i> Comparing Collective Licensing Proposals For Internet Licensing of Copyrighted Content
Advances in digital distribution technologies and widespread use of the Internet have moved media distribution technology out of the control of rights holders and distributors, and directly into the hands of consumers or creative members of the general public. To address how U.S. copyright law should apply to new business models that take advantage of these technologies, some have proposed collective rights licensing at the Internet service provider (ISP) level.
Txt2Win and Mobile Promos
Sweepstakes and contests have become popular in mobile promotion. However, because sweepstakes and contests are highly regulated, a marketer using a mobile device must comply not only with mobile-messaging laws and regulations, but also with those governing sweepstakes and contests. Indeed, text messaging as a sweepstakes-entry method has brought much consumer litigation in recent years.
Verdicts
Recent rulings of importance to you and your practice.
eBay Sued for $3.8 Billion for Alleged Patent Infringement
Online auction giant eBay Inc. was hit with a $3.8 billion patent-infringement lawsuit last month. XPRT Ventures LLC, which holds patents covering e-commerce payments and methods, filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware against eBay and several subsidiaries, including PayPal Inc. and StubHub Inc. The suit alleges infringement of six XPRT patents covering e-commerce payment systems and that eBay misappropriated information provided in confidence.
