K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup - February 2026

Sports:

• This month's rash of indictments over alleged point-shaving in college basketball seems unlikely to prompt immediate wholesale changes within the NCAA, with the organization instead looking outward to address the threats posed by risky wagers offered on its games. NCAA Eyes Outreach, Not Overhaul, In Hoops Betting Scandal - Law360
• The principal owner of the WNBA's Chicago Sky has shortchanged the team's minority investors to his own benefit as the popularity and value of the team and league have risen, one of the partners claimed in an Illinois state suit. Chicago Sky's Owner Stiffing Minority Partners, Suit Claims
• Trading card customers accusing Fanatics of manipulating the market through its exclusive deals with the major sports leagues make premature and implausible conclusions, the collectibles giant told a New York federal judge in its bid to dismiss the suit. Fanatics, Leagues Want Out Of Card Buyers' Antitrust Suit
• A Manhattan federal jury on Wednesday convicted a Washington state man of meticulously faking grades to boost the value of big-dollar trading cards, including an iconic Michael Jordan rookie card, to rip off buyers seeking collectibles in prime condition. Jordan Card Seller Found Guilty Of Faking 'Mint' Grades
• Ten former NFL players suing the league's disability plan for denying them benefits were turned down for class certification on Wednesday by a Maryland federal judge, who said the group failed to show the commonality of the proposed class' claims. No Class Cert. For Ex-NFL Players In Benefits Challenge

Entertainment:

LAWSUITS OF THE RICH & FAMOUS

• Kim Kardashian’s Skims Body Inc. will pay a $200,000 civil penalty and continue refunding NJ shoppers after improperly collecting sales tax on clothing that should have been tax exempt for nearly 5 years. AG Platkin: Skims Body, Inc. to Pay $200,000 Civil Penalty to Resolve Consumer Fraud Allegations Tied to Company’s Improper Collection of Sales Tax from NJ Consumers - New Jersey Office of Attorney General
• Snoop Dogg's ice cream company and multiple Edible Arrangements entities have asked a CN federal court to send their trademark dispute over use of the word "Swizzle" to a magistrate judge for mediation and pause all deadlines in the case until that process is complete. Snoop Dogg's Ice Cream Co. Seeks Mediation for 'Swizzle' Trademark Dispute - World Lawyers Forum

MUSIC

• The DOJ told a federal judge that Live Nation Entertainment Inc. should be broken up because the company maintains a stranglehold over the live events industry, in part by freezing out venues that don’t use its Ticketmaster. DOJ and Live Nation Clash Over Allegations of Illegal Monopoly
• Pharrell Williams was sued in CA federal court by his former songwriter partner Chad Hugo, who claims the pop superstar owes him for unpaid royalties and access to financial records related to their collaboration as The Neptunes. Pharrell sued by Chad Hugo over The Neptunes, N.E.R.D. profits
• Major music publishers already suing Anthropic for copyright infringement filed a second, $3 billion suit against the artificial intelligence company, a move they say is necessary to hold Anthropic accountable for "brazen," newly discovered mass infringement of sheet music and songbooks. Universal Music Sues Anthropic AI: Lawsuit Seeks $3B for Pirated Songs
• A Miami-based record label told an 11^th Circuit panel that a lower court erred in determining rap group 2 Live Crew never gave up termination rights under the Copyright Act, arguing instead that the rights were included in the sale of the records in a 1996 bankruptcy. https://courthousenews.com/2-live-crew-takes-the-stage-at-11th-circuit-over-music-rights
• A musician who says he provided vocals on the song "See You Again" used in the film Furious 7 as a sendoff to actor Paul Walker and his character Brian O'Conner has filed a lawsuit in CA federal court claiming he wasn't properly compensated for his work. Broido v. Warner Music Group Corp. et al 2:2026cv00947 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California | Justia

FILM & TELEVISION

• A CA federal judge was right to free Hulu LLC from allegations that it infringed Sound View Innovations LLC's streaming patent, the Federal Circuit determined. 24-1092.OPINION.1-29-2026_2640097.pdf