K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup - July 2024 #5

Sports:

• The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has granted a limited appeal in Pittsburgh’s challenge to a Pennsylvania court ruling that the city’s tax on visiting athletes and performers is unconstitutional. In a one-page order Monday, the Supreme Court said the appeal would be limited to whether Commonwealth Court correctly interpreted the state constitution’s requirement that all taxpayers must be subject to the same tax rate. It denied the appeal on other grounds the city had raised. Supreme Court grants limited appeal of ruling striking down Pittsburgh’s ‘jock tax’ – Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Olympics

• A Russian appeal against the decision to strip them of the figure skating team gold medal at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics was dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday. Court of Arbitration for Sport dismisses Russian appeal over Valieva medal – Reuters
• The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee is suing an energy drink brand affiliated with a pair of YouTube stars, accusing the company of trademark infringement. In a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Court of Colorado on Friday, the Olympic Committee alleges YouTube stars’ Logan Paul and KSI’s energy drink company PRIME, has been using trademarked symbols and phrases as part of a recent promotion featuring NBA star and 2024 U.S.A. men’s basketball team member Kevin Durant. US Olympic Committee sues Logan Paul’s Prime energy drink over copyright violation claims – USA Today

NCAA

• The NCAA, the Power Five conferences, and lawyers for the plaintiffs in three antitrust cases concerning the compensation of college athletes on Friday filed documents asking a federal judge in California to provide preliminary approval of a proposed settlement that would include a nearly $2.8 billion damages pool for current and former athletes and dramatically alter other fundamental aspects of how the association’s top level of competition is governed. NCAA, Power Five conferences file documents seeking approval of $2.8 billion revenue-sharing settlement – USA Today
• The college football recruit accusing coaches and boosters of fraud over a canceled name, image and likeness deal badly misinterpreted statements and messages that were never intended to be contractual agreements, a University of Florida booster told a Florida federal judge. Claims By Recruit In NIL Suit Are ‘Ambiguous,’ Booster Says – Law360

NBA

• The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced the renewal of its partnership with The Walt Disney Company and new agreements with NBCUniversal (NBCU) and Amazon under which ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock and Prime Video will telecast NBA games beginning with the 2025-26 season and running through the 2035-36 season. NBA signs new 11-year media agreements with The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video through 2035-36 season – NBA Communications
• The NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans asked a Louisiana federal court to force cryptocurrency mining company PrimeBlock Operations LLC to either pony up the sponsorship fee it failed to deliver years ago or make good on a subsequent $500,000 settlement offer. NBA’s Pelicans Seek To Recoup Crypto Co.’s Sponsor Fees – Law360

NFL

• A nearly two-and-a-half-year legal battle involving Jerry Jones has finally come to an end as he has reached a settlement with a woman who says she is his biological daughter. Jerry Jones reaches settlement in paternity case, says ordeal was ‘sensitive to me and my family’ – Fox News

Entertainment:

MUSIC

• Madonna and venue management company Monumental Sports & Entertainment asked a D.C. federal judge to toss a lawsuit claiming that the pop singer kept concert attendees waiting for hours before taking the stage in D.C., saying the proposed class action should fare no better than a similar suit in NY that was dropped last month. Madonna slams lawsuit over late concert starts, denies deceiving fans | Reuters
• Rock music fans who were geared up for the three-day Capulet Fest in CN suffered emotional distress when the outdoor event was suddenly shortened and moved to an indoor venue more than 50 miles away, according to proposed class claims by ticket holders. Music Fest ‘A Mere Shadow’ Of Promised Event, Fans Say – Law360
• A NY federal judge set up a two-tiered system for document access in the DOJ’s antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, limiting sensitive information from other market participants from Live Nation in-house counsel. Judge Sets Up 2-Tier Counsel Access In DOJ Live Nation Suit – Law360

FILM & TELEVISION

• Walt Disney Co. must face an Elon Musk-backed lawsuit over a former The Mandalorian star’s departure from the show, an L.A. federal judge ruled. Gina Carano Beats Disney’s Move To Kill Mandalorian Firing Suit (deadline.com)
• A shareholder of Paramount Global Class B common stock sued chairwoman Shari Redstone and several members of its board over the allegedly “unfair” merger with Skydance Media LLC, claiming the deal is being orchestrated to cash out Redstone’s investments in Paramount at a substantial premium compared to other stockholders. Paramount-Skydance Merger Prompts Class-Action Lawsuit (thewrap.com)
• The Patent Trial and Appeal Board must reconsider Netflix‘s petitions challenging the validity of a Broadcom unit’s software performance monitoring patent, the Federal Circuit held, finding flaws in the board’s refusal to invalidate claims. Circ. Gives Netflix 2nd Chance To Challenge Broadcom IP – Law360

MEANWHILE, IN HOLLYWOOD…

• A TX judge issued a temporary restraining order against rapper Chris Brown following a lawsuit filed by four men who were allegedly “brutalized” by the rapper after attending his Fort Worth concert over the weekend. Chris Brown hit with $50 million lawsuit accusing him of assault (ew.com)
• The Wahlburgers hamburger chain started by actor Mark Wahlberg and his brothers sued food truck operators at the Los Angeles County Fair, accusing them of violating the chain’s trademarks, according to a new federal lawsuit. Mark Wahlberg’s Burger Chain Sues LA Food Truck Over Trademarks (bloomberglaw.com)