K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (November 26, 2024)

Sports:

NFL

• The National Football League has paid more than $1.3 billion to settle claims from former professional athletes who suffered neurological damage due to concussions sustained while playing, with 4% of that earmarked for their attorneys, according to a report by the court appointed special master and claim administrator for the multidistrict litigation. NFL Paid $1.3B In Concussions Settlement So Far, 4% Atty Fees – Law360
• At least three professional sports leagues warned their teams this week that organized and skilled groups are targeting the homes of athletes for break-ins, including while the players are away at games. Skilled burglars are targeting pro athletes’ homes, leagues warn – CNN

GOLF

• John Ruzich comes to the controversial Saudi-backed pro golf organization from Legends Hospitality, a provider of food and beverage services to venues, where he was legal chief for 12 years. As Uncertainty Hovers Over PGA Merger, LIV Golf Hires Entertainment Industry Veteran as Legal Chief – law.com

NCAA

• Conflict over the Mountain West Conference’s policy on transgender athletes escalated this week when a volleyball coach and current and former players filed a federal lawsuit alleging Title IX violations and violations of their free speech rights. A new lawsuit challenges the Mountain West’s policy on transgender athletes – MSN
• The NCAA has had a rough go of it in court in recent years, but in a new court filing it insists Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia should be denied a preliminary injunction to extend his NCAA eligibility for the 2025-26 season. NCAA Tries to Intercept Vandy QB Diego Pavia’s Lawsuit – Sportico

Entertainment:

MUSIC

• Sony Music Entertainment settled a lawsuit accusing the makers and financiers of the Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody biopic of copyright infringement for not paying outstanding licensing fees for 24 Houston recordings it included. Sony Music agrees to end lawsuit over Whitney Houston movie | Reuters
• The full 2^nd Circuit should review a recent decision affirming musician Ed Sheeran’s win in a copyright infringement suit in which a lower court ruled the case was limited to the sheet music filed with the Copyright Office, according to a petition. Ed Sheeran Case Merits Full Second Circuit Review, Petition Says
• Miley Cyrus has asked for the dismissal of a complaint from a music investment company that alleges she ripped off Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man” to create her hit “Flowers,” arguing the plaintiffs lack standing because they do not own exclusive copyright rights to Mars’ song. Miley Cyrus seeks dismissal of ‘Flowers’ copyright lawsuit
• Ticketmaster LLC and Live Nation Worldwide Inc. convinced a federal judge to throw out a lawsuit accusing them of infringing e-ticketing security technology. Live Nation, Ticketmaster can’t dodge antitrust suit, Ninth Circuit rules | Courthouse News Service
• Donald Trump reached a settlement with Eddy Grant two months after a NY federal court ruled he infringed Grant’s 1983 hit “Electric Avenue” in a 2020 social media post. Donald Trump Settles Eddy Grant’s ‘Electric Avenue’ Copyright Lawsuit

FILM & TELEVISION

• A man has filed a proposed class action in FL state court over the streaming glitches during the recent boxing bout between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, claiming that Netflix owes every affected customer restitution for failing to deliver promised services. Florida Man Sues Netflix Over Streaming Issues During Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Fight
• A Los Angeles judge suggested that he’ll likely keep alive a defamation suit accusing actress Rebel Wilson of spreading baseless lies about producers of the musical film The Deb, saying it seems the matter is a “private business dispute” not protected by California’s anti-SLAPP statute. Rebel Wilson unlikely to wriggle free from defamation suit filed by film producers | Courthouse News Service

SOCIAL MEDIA

• An influencer’s first-of-its-kind lawsuit accusing another creator of copying the “vibe” of her Instagram, TikTok, and Amazon Storefront posts should move forward, a TX judge said. Influencer Should Face Creator’s Vibe-Copying Suit, Judge Says
• Meta Platforms and Netflix made an unlawful agreement where the social media giant would cede the video-streaming market to Netflix by hobbling its competing service and the streaming giant would funnel its customers’ data to boost Facebook’s advertising algorithms, according to a proposed class action filed in IL federal court. Netflix, Meta Sued Over “Quid Pro Quo” To Neutralize Facebook Watch Video Platform.

MEANWHILE, IN HOLLYWOOD…

• An anonymous public figure lodged a suit in Los Angeles court accusing personal injury lawyer Tony Buzbee of using false rape allegations to “shake down innocent celebrities, politicians and businesspeople” who have even the smallest ties to indicted hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. Tony Buzbee sued: Diddy accusers’ attorney accused of extortion Meanwhile, in Diddy’s own case, a Manhattan federal judge directed prosecutors to temporarily delete potentially privileged notes recovered from the rapper’s jail cell pending briefing, after lawyers for the hip-hop mogul called the seizure “outrageous.” Judge rules prosecutors must destroy Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ jail cell notes – ABC News
• IL’s high court ruled that prosecutors violated disgraced actor Jussie Smollett‘s constitutional rights by trying the actor after earlier dismissing his charges for falsely reporting a hate crime, saying the “fundamentally unfair” conviction must be voided. Jussie Smollett conviction overturned in hate-crime hoax: What’s next | CNN
• A Los Angeles judge sanctioned two of Ye‘s companies after they “simply ignored” discovery requests in a former employee’s lawsuit alleging widespread racism, antisemitism and homophobia on the part of the rapper formerly known as Kanye West. Ye’s Cos. Sanctioned For Blowing Off Discovery In Bias Suit – Law360