A class action lawsuit over three (possibly) fake songs on a 2010 posthumous Michael Jackson album will continue. But Sony Music Entertainment and the Jackson Estate are no longer defendants. Are the songs fake? Quite possibly. Is this Sony MusicR…
Category archives: legal
‘Spinal Tap’ Creators Will Get Their Day In Court —With $400 Million In Fraud Claims
A legal battle over the This Is Spinal Tap mockumentary will proceed, with alleged damages more than tripling. The creators of This Is Spinal Tap say they’ve been stiffed for decades, with Universal Music Group among those blamed. Now, a judge h…
Dr. Luke’s $40 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against Kesha Seizes on New Evidence
Songwriter and producer Dr. Luke has been embroiled in a long-running legal battle with Kesha, which came to a head this week with new evidence. Kesha initially filed a lawsuit against producer Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, stating that he se…
The Supreme Court Formally Asked to Review the DMCA — By a Porn Company
Why hasn’t the Supreme Court reviewed the Constitutional legality of the DMCA? That’s a complex question, though numerous entertainment industries would certainly invite the process. That includes the adult entertainment industry, whose bu…
BMG Wins a ‘Substantial Settlement’ Against Cox Communications Over Copyright Infringement Claims
After years of litigation, publishing and music rights heavyweight BMG has just scored a ‘substantial settlement’ against ISP Cox Communications. The following is a developing story; please check back for ongoing updates throughout the day …
Should the Music Industry Force ISPs to Become Copyright Enforcement Agents?
Grande Communications argues that no, American internet service providers shouldn’t have to do the music industry’s job. Yesterday, a federal judge dealt Cox Communications a fatal blow in its bitter case against BMG. Judge Liam O’Grady ruled in favor …
‘F—k the Police’ Rap Song Isn’t Protected by Free Speech, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules
A 24-year-old man was convicted for making threats towards Pittsburgh police in a rap song he created and performed on YouTube. He continued to fight that conviction asking for the state Supreme Court to hear the case due to free speech rights. That c…
What Marvin Gaye’s Attorney Thinks About the ‘Blurred Lines’ Copyright Verdict
It’s easily one of the most controversial music copyright cases of the year — if not decade. But will the ‘Blurred Lines’ copyright verdict really create a ‘chilling effect’ for songwriters and music creativity? The follo…
Irving Azoff’s GMR Faces a Serious Legal Setback Against US Radio Stations
Expect the bitter fight between Irving Azoff’s Global Music Rights and the Radio Music Licensing Committee to continue dragging on. Several years ago, influential manager Irving Azoff had an idea. Why not start a performance rights organization (PRO) …
Grieving Families Slam Oakland’s Ghost Ship Fire ‘Sweetheart’ Plea Deal
Back in December 2016, a fire at an Oakland warehouse referred to as the Ghost Ship claimed the lives of three dozen partygoers inside. More recently, the two men held responsible for the deaths, pled no contest to 36 charges of involuntary manslaughte…