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Who's Doing What
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Universal promotes Steve Wengert; MTV names Scott Robson vice president of new movie initiatives; Australian police discover huge cache of pirated movies; Island Def Jam appoints Jon Vanhala senior vice president of digital and new business development; Fontana Distribution inks exclusive deal with Rap-A-Lot Records.
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1
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In Brief
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German court grants Motion Picture Association an injunction against an Internet provider accused of hosting websites that offer pirated movies; judge tosses lawsuit against Variety; online playlist service settles copyright lawsuits; TV chef accused of hatching plot to murder wife; Canadian court allows online music vendors to use snippets of songs for free.
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2
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Publicity Rights
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Samuel Moore v. The Weinstein Company. Tennessee judge nixes dismissal of lawsuit filed by soul singer who says movie is a veiled biopic about his life.
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3
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Contract
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Alan Ladd Jr. v. Warner Bros. Entertainment. California court orders Warner Bros. to pay producers for undersold movies.
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3
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Copyright
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Colleen Salinger v. Fredrik Colting dba John David California. The 2nd Circuit orders federal judge to reconsider J.D. Salinger copyright case.
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4
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Patent/Trademark
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Patent Rights Protection Group v. Video Gaming Technologies Inc. Federal Circuit reinstates lawsuit over slot machine patents.
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5
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Wills/Probate
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Elaine Marshall v. Howard K. Stern. The 9th Circuit refuses to reconsider ruling divesting Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter of money from the $1.6 billion estate of Smith’s late husband.
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5
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Copyright
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Jazan Wild v. NBC Universal. Artist claims NBC’s hit TV show “Heroes” is a rip-off of his comic book series.
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6
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Wills/Probate
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Jacquelyne Hollander v. The Irrevocable Trust Established by James Brown on Aug. 1, 2000. Fight over James Brown’s trust continues.
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7
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Assault
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Jeremy Campos v. Robert James Ritchie aka Kid Rock. Strip-club DJ says Kid Rock punched him.
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7
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Copyright
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Lavell Crump v. QD3 Entertainment Inc.; Dirahn Gilliams v. Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. pka Lil’ Wayne. Two lawsuits challenge copyright over the Lil’ Wayne’s song “Lollipop.”
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8
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Copyright
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Magidson Films Inc. v. Milan Entertainment Inc. Movie producer accuses record company of distributing soundtrack without permission.
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8
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Fiduciary Duty
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Kate Jackson v. Richard Francis. “Charlie’s Angels” actress accuses business manager of leading her to financial ruin.
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9
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Civil Rights
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Michael Avila v. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Inc. Actor demands $50 million from Academy, claiming its security guards mistreated him.
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9
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Contract
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Joel Silver v. The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Hollywood producer accuses Goldman Sachs of stiffing him on a $35 million contract.
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10
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Publicity Rights
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Bogart v. Plummers Inc. Company that owns Humphrey Bogart’s trademark says designers used the late actor’s name to sell furniture.
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10
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Contract
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Brad Caswell v. James White Sr. Country singer accuses manager of trapping him in a useless contract.
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11
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Contract
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Live Nation Worldwide Inc. v. Hillside Productions. Music venue owes hundreds of thousands, Live Nation claims.
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11
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Publicity Rights
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Carl Senna v. Danzy Senna. Author sues daughter over his portrayal in her memoir.
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12
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Copyright
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Nintendo of America Inc. v. Kevin Niu. Nintendo sues to shut down website that sells “game copiers.”
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12
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Contract
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Aramid Entertainment v. Bontempo Holdings. Movie financers claim producers owe millions.
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13
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Fiduciary Duty
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Randy Quaid v. Lloyd Braun. Actor accuses his lawyer of “gossip-mongering.”
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13
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Patent/Trademark
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V Secret Catalogue Inc. v. Victor Moseley dba Victor’s Little Secret. The 6th Circuit finds that a Kentucky sex shop can’t call itself “Victor’s Little Secret” because the name dilutes the trademark of Victoria’s Secret Stores Inc.
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14
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