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

Sports:

NCAA

• It might have been nothing more than coincidence, but the NCAA released a statement on Wednesday denying athletes five years of college eligibility for now, with Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman explaining the decision. NCAA Won’t Change Rule, Which Keeps Manu In Limbo – SI
• A court-ordered federal mediator has reported an impasse between the NCAA and college tennis players challenging the rules barring them from competing in and earning prize money in professional events without forfeiting their college eligibility. NCAA, Tennis Players Can’t Reach Deal In Prize-Money Suit – Law360
• The NCAA owes a former college football player and his wife $18 million, a South Carolina jury decided while finding college sports’ major governing body negligent in failing to warn the player about the long-term effects of concussions. NCAA ordered to pay $18M to former football player and wife in concussion lawsuit – AP
• The Indiana Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments later this month in a case deciding whether the National Collegiate Athletic Association had a duty to warn individual student athletes about the risk of football-related head trauma that can contribute to death later. State appeals court to hear case that accuses NCAA of wrongful death in football head injury – Indiana Lawyer

MLB

• Testimony continues this week in the wrongful death lawsuit brought against the Los Angeles Angels by the family of former pitcher Tyler Skaggs, and one of Major League Baseball’s biggest stars could soon take the witness stand inside an Orange County, California courtroom as part of the proceedings. Tyler Skaggs wrongful death lawsuit: Why Mike Trout might testify in case – USA Today

NFL

• Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has been in a battle with the NFL for quite some time. Gruden, in his lawsuit against the NFL, claims that the NFL leaked emails that were damaging to Gruden. And that they forced the Raiders to make Gruden step down as the Raiders’ head coach during the 2021 season. New Details Surface in Jon Gruden’s Legal Fight With the NFL – SI

NBA

• Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested Thursday as part of an FBI sports-gambling probe, the agency announced in a news conference. Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups arrested as part of FBI sports gambling probe: Live updates as defendants arraigned in court – Yahoo Sports

Entertainment:

MUSIC

• A FL federal judge permanently dismissed a suit from two songwriters who claimed that Brazilian pop star Anitta had copied their work in her song “Funk Rave,” saying the songwriters had three chances to state their claims but had failed to adequately do so. Anitta ‘Funk Rave’ Lawsuit Rejected by Judge in Court Ruling
• Convicted fund manager Martin Shkreli asked a judge to join two Wu-Tang Clan rappers as necessary plaintiffs in a suit accusing him of illegally copying and distributing the iconic group’s one-of-a-kind album. Wu-Tang Album Lawsuit: Shkreli Wants RZA Pulled Into Legal Battle
• Lizzo and her record label face a federal lawsuit alleging copyright infringement related to an unauthorized sample used in a part of a song she circulated on social media. Lizzo Sued Over Snippet Referencing Sydney Sweeney’s Controversial Ad

FILM & TELEVISION

• A judge overseeing the bankruptcy of Matrix studio Village Roadshow said he’ll issue a ruling shortly on the proposed sale of derivative rights to Alcon Media Group, a transaction Warner Bros. has been trying to block. ‘Matrix’ Studio Judge to Rule Soon on Warner Bros., Alcon Fight
• A writer accusing Paramount Global of infringing scenes he wrote for the film “Top Gun: Maverick” failed to convince a judge to toss the studio’s fraud and copyright counterclaims. ‘Top Gun’ Writer Can’t Duck Paramount’s Copyright, Fraud Claims
• Warner Bros. Discovery‘s board reportedly rejected a nearly $60 billion offer from Paramount Skydance, but a deal could still materialize after Warner Bros.’ board launched a formal review of strategic alternatives. Warner Bros Discovery rejects Paramount offer, source says, company ponders sale options | Reuters
• A fifth amended complaint from technology company Rearden LLC against Disney over alleged copyright infringement related to digital modeling technology of the character Thanos from The Avengers partly survived an attempt by Disney to kill the suit, with a judge permanently tossing a contributory infringement claim. Disney Trims But Can’t Defeat Thanos Tech Copyright Suit – Law360

LAWSUITS OF THE RICH & FAMOUS

• Blake Lively told a NY federal judge her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, his production company and other defendants in her defamation case should be sanctioned for using Signal’s auto-delete function in an attempt to erase evidence of their alleged retaliatory smear campaign against the actress. Lively Vs Baldoni: Alleged Auto-Deleted Smear Campaign Messages Crank Up Legal Heat