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Hollywood Labor Backs AI Transparency Bill That Could Offer Firepower to Creators
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Business
Paramount Wins ‘Top Gun’ Copyright Lawsuit
The court agreed with the studio that the movie and magazine article aren't substantially similar and that any similarities are unprotectable facts not covered by copyright law.
BY Winston Cho -
TV
Faith Stowers of ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Files Lawsuit Alleging Racial Harassment on Set
A complaint from the cast member is the latest in a "reality reckoning" that has seen stars of Bravo’s slate of shows take its creators to court.
BY Kevin Dolak -
Business
Disney, ABC and John Ridley Sued For Discrimination By Former Development Executive
Asta Jonasson, who was fired in 2022 after issuing a formal complaint, alleges the 'American Crime' creator failed to give her the same pay and opportunities on the basis of her gender and race. A lawyer for Ridley denied the allegations.
BY Winston Cho
THR, Esq's Latest News
Hollywood Labor Backs AI Transparency Bill That Could Offer Firepower to Creators
As generative artificial intelligence tools push into the entertainment industry, Hollywood is throwing its weight behind a bill that will require heightened transparency from AI companies. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Tuesday, will require firms to disclose copyrighted works used to train generative AI systems. If the bill passes, OpenAI, for […]
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Paramount Wins ‘Top Gun’ Copyright Lawsuit
Paramount has prevailed in a copyright lawsuit, brought by the heirs to the author of a 1983 magazine story that inspired the original Top Gun, accusing the studio of forging ahead with the blockbuster sequel without renegotiating a new license. U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson, in an order dismissing the case on Friday, found that […]
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Faith Stowers of ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Files Lawsuit Alleging Racial Harassment on Set
In the latest of a string of lawsuits indicating serious trouble in Bravoland, former Vanderpump Rules cast member Faith Stowers is accusing NBCUniversal of racial harassment, according to a complaint filed on Friday. Stowers, who appeared in seasons 4 and 5 of the reality series offshoot of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, claims in the suit that castmate Lala […]
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Disney, ABC and John Ridley Sued For Discrimination By Former Development Executive
Disney has been hit with a new lawsuit from a development executive over allegations that she was underpaid because she’s an Asian American woman. Asta Jonasson, in a lawsuit filed on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims she was discriminated against by director John Ridley, whose production house has an overall deal with Disney […]
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George Carlin’s Estate Settles Lawsuit Against Podcasters Over AI Special
A settlement has been reached between the estate of George Carlin and the makers of a podcast who used generative artificial intelligence to impersonate the late stand-up comic’s voice and style for an unauthorized special. Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen, hosts of the podcast Dudesy, and George Carlin’s estate notified the court on Tuesday of […]
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Disney’s DEI Efforts Targeted by Trump Aide’s Legal Group Amid Proxy Fight
Disney’s efforts to boost diversity are under attack ahead of a key shareholder vote to elect its board that will shape the direction of the company. Stephen Miller’s America First Legal foundation, in a letter sent to Disney’s top brass March 27, claims that initiatives to boost diversity and inclusion violate civil rights laws and […]
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Michael Kassan Files $125M Defamation Lawsuit Against Bryan Freedman Over UTA Case
The feud between Michael Kassan and UTA over the MediaLink founder’s departure is intensifying, with Kassan suing the agency’s lawyer for defamation. Kassan, in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, accuses attorney Bryan Freedman of trying to tarnish his reputation at the direction of UTA in a bid to prevent employees […]
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How the Disney vs. DeSantis Battle Ended in a Stalemate
In the months leading up to the settlement between Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis, both sides were growing weary. At the top of the year, Disney lost a pivotal First Amendment lawsuit claiming that the Republican governor violated its free speech rights by assuming control of the special tax district that encompasses the entertainment giant’s […]
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Disney, Florida Settle Legal Claims as DeSantis-Iger Fight Over Special District Winds Down
Disney and allies of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have settled a legal battle for control of the district that oversees development around the company’s theme parks. The deal, reached on Wednesday, resolves litigation in state court accusing the entertainment giant of covertly cobbling together a “series of eleventh-hour deals” to illicitly retain development powers after […]
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Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Disney Over VFX Tech Used in ‘Avengers’ Movies
The Walt Disney company has fended off allegations in a case that’s a part of long-running litigation at the intersection of Hollywood and Silicon Valley over the use of allegedly stolen VFX technology to animate some of the company’s most iconic characters in its highest-grossing movies. A federal judge on Thursday dismissed copyright infringement claims […]
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Wendy Williams’ Guardian Tried to Gag Lifetime Docuseries After Seeing Critical Trailer, A+E Claims
In the days before Lifetime’s controversial documentary looking at Wendy Williams’ struggles with health and addiction aired in late February, A+E Networks engaged in a last-minute legal battle with the former daytime TV personality’s court-appointed guardian, who it alleges in legal documents unsealed this week had used the courts to prevent the film’s release as […]
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Martin Scorsese Settles Lawsuit Over Claims He Reneged on Deal to Produce World War II Movie
Martin Scorsese and his production company, Sikelia Productions, have settled a lawsuit accusing them of reneging on a $1 million deal to executive produce a World War II movie. U.K.-based production company Op-Fortitude informed the court on Thursday of a deal to resolve the case. The settlement is contingent on the completion of certain terms […]
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As DOJ Takes on Apple, Netflix and Spotify Could Stand to Benefit
In September 2019, after years of moves signaling that it was getting serious about Hollywood ambitions, Apple unveiled its foray into entertainment through a subscription video service. A month later, it officially launched its own internal studio, which would feed exclusive content to Apple TV+. The service was offered at an industry-low $5 per month, […]
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Rupert Murdoch Knew of Widespread Phone Hacking, Prince Harry’s Lawyer Claims
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is now being named by Prince Harry’s attorney as one of many News Corp. executives who allegedly knew the breadth of the company’s use of illegal news-gathering tactics and conspired to destroy evidence as the phone hacking scandal exploded over a decade ago. The allegation came from attorney David Sherborne during […]
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Hermès Hit With Class Action Lawsuit Over Exclusivity of Birkin Bags
Hollywood’s favorite accessory is coming under fire, with French luxury house Hermès facing a lawsuit over barriers to purchase its coveted Birkin handbags. A proposed class action filed in California federal court on Tuesday alleges that Hermès violates antitrust laws by requiring consumers to have a “sufficient purchase history” of buying the company’s secondary products, […]
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TKO to Pay $335M to Settle Legal Bout Against UFC Fighters Ahead of Trial
A legal showdown between Ultimate Fighting Championship and more than 1,200 fighters suing for wage suppression has settled. TKO Group — born out of the marriage between UFC and WWE, with the aim of becoming a sports marketing powerhouse — will pay $335 million to resolve the class action from fighters, according to a Wednesday […]
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