K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup - December 2025 #4

Sports:

• DraftKings’ prediction markets went live on Friday, bringing sports event contracts to 17 states that haven’t legalized sports betting, including California, Texas, and Florida. DraftKings launches prediction market in states without legal sports betting – Barron’s
• Bankrupt golf services business Nicklaus Cos. asked a court to find that a top creditor tied to banker and entrepreneur Howard Milstein doesn’t have a $476 million secured claim against the company. Nicklaus Co. Aims to Block Creditor’s Secured Status Before Sale – Bloomberg

MLB

• The Los Angeles Angels on Friday settled a lawsuit over the drug overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Los Angeles Angels, Tyler Skaggs’ family reach settlement in wrongful death lawsuit – CBS

NFL

• A longtime associate general counsel for the NFL Players Association on Thursday filed a $10 million sex discrimination and retaliation suit, claiming the union intimidated and retaliated against her for cooperating with a federal investigation into misconduct by “men in positions of power” at the NFLPA. NFLPA’s Longtime Associate GC Files $10M Sex Bias Suit – Law360
• Former NFL player Michael Cloud was not owed attorney fees by the NFL’s retirement plan from his attempt to attain disability benefits, the Fifth Circuit said Thursday, dealing Cloud another defeat after a previous court victory was reversed. Ex-NFL Player Can’t Keep $1.9M Atty Fees, 5th Circ. Rules – Law360

Entertainment:

FILM & TELEVISION

• James Cameron and Walt Disney Co. infringed a writer’s copyright with the 2022 blockbuster Avatar: The Way of Water after the director escaped litigation accusing him of ripping off a story with the first Avatar film, a federal lawsuit says. Disney, James Cameron sued for copyright infringement over ‘Avatar’ | Reuters
• S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff asked an attorney for a man who claims that he wasn’t credited for writing significant portions of the 2022 film Top Gun: Maverick why he shouldn’t think the man knew he’d be infringing Paramount’s copyrights given that he didn’t have a contract to work on the movie. Rakoff Asks If Man Seeking ‘Top Gun’ Credit Had Copyright – Law360

LAWSUITS OF THE RICH & FAMOUS

• Lady Gaga defeated a surf company’s bid to prohibit her from selling clothing bearing the word “Mayhem” while its lawsuit accusing her of trademark infringement moves forward. Lady Gaga ‘Mayhem’ Logo Lawsuit: Star Scores Key Win Against Surf Co.

MUSIC

• Spotify and Eminem‘s music publisher, which accused the digital music platform of streaming the rapper’s hit “Lose Yourself” without a license, have ended the copyright infringement lawsuit, informing both a TN federal court and the 6^th Circuit that they are dropping their dispute. Eminem’s Publisher, Spotify Sort Out Copyright Dispute – Law360
• A group of independent musicians has filed a proposed class action claiming the artificial intelligence music platform Mureka illegally and systematically copies and stores their copyrighted works as part of a product that directly competes with their livelihoods. Musicians Say AI Music Platform Copies Copyrighted Works – Law360