Posts by Steven T. Lowe
Entertainment Industry Con Faces 20 Years for Defrauding Investors in $650 Million-Dollar Scheme
On October 4th, 2021, Zachary Joseph Horwitz, a Los Angeles actor, pled guilty to one count of securities fraud in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Horwitz, also known by his stage name, Zach Avery, admitted to raising $650 million from investors by leading them to believe that he had…
Read MoreDisney lands the jump in Evel Knievel trademark suit
On September 23, 2021, a U.S. District Judge for the District of Nevada granted Walt Disney’s motion to dismiss K&K Productions’ claim of trademark infringement under the Lanham Act “without prejudice.” If a case is dismissed without prejudice, then the case may be brought to court once more. K&K owns intellectual property and publicity rights…
Read MoreNetflix faces suit by Carole Baskin over footage in Netflix’s “Tiger King 2”
On November 1, 2021, Carole Baskin, star of the sensational “Tiger King” Netflix series, filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida stating a claim for breach of contract and a request to enjoin Netflix from airing “Tiger King 2.” Baskin alleged that the “Tiger King” sequel uses…
Read MoreKC Sunshine Band Member Seeks to Terminate Copyright
On October 8, 2021, Richard Finch (“Finch”), guitarist of the 70’s group, “KC and the Sunshine Band,” (most notable known for their hit songs: “That’s The Way (I Like It),” “(Shake, Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty,” and “Boogie Shoes”) brought suit against Sony’s EMI Longitude Music in the United States District Court for the Central…
Read MoreAtlanta Concierge Gives Away Young Thug’s $1M Bag to Stranger
On October 14, 2021, Jeffery Lamar Williams, p.k.a “Young Thug,” filed a suit in Gwinnett Superior Court in Georgia against the owner and property manager of the building at which Young Thug resides for negligent supervision and negligence. According to the complaint, Young Thug returned to Atlanta from Los Angeles and was unpacking his car…
Read MoreSinger Sues Drake and Chris Brown for Copyright Infringement
On October 5, 2021, Brandon Cooper, and his producer, Timothy Valentine, filed a copyright infringement suit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida against Drake, Chris Brown, and seven other songwriters credited on Drake and Brown’s track “No Guidance.” “No Guidance” is an R&B Grammy-nominated song that landed at number…
Read MoreMTV prevails in Floribama in trademark case
On September 22, 2021, a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Florida granted ViacomCBS’s summary judgment motion against MGFB Properties’ trademark infringement claim under the Lanham Act. The producers of MTV’s “Floribama Shore,” a spin-off of MTV’s popular “Jersey Shore” franchise, used the same name for their show as a restaurant in Florida…
Read MoreBasketball star, Scary Terry, defeats trademark and copyright claims by owner of rights to mask
On September 27, 2021, a U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of New York found that Charlotte Hornets basketball player Terry Rozier’s use of a ghost mask was fair use. Fair use is the right to use a copyrighted work under certain conditions without the permission of the copyright owner. Fun World produces…
Read MoreCher Seeks Judicial Relief Against Sonny Bono’s Widow
On October 13, 2021, Cher brought suit in the United States District Court of the Central District of California against Sonny Bono’s widow, seeking a declaration that she is entitled to 50% of the royalties from the musical compositions recorded by Sonny & Cher. Sonny and Cher were married until 1978. Following their divorce, the…
Read MoreThe Copyright Infringement Lawsuit By Dr. Seuss Enterprises Against ComicMix Over the Star Trek “Mashup” Finally Settles
After a years-long battle between Dr. Seuss Enterprises and ComicMix LLC, the two have finally settled the copyright infringement lawsuit, which was initially filed by the famed author’s estate over Dr. Seuss/Star Trek mashup book entitled “Oh the Places You’ll Boldly Go.” On October 5, 2021, Dr. Suess Enterprises, the group that controls the famous…
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