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Business
That Was My Idea! How Hollywood Is Avoiding Story Theft Claims
The industry’s endless array of programming could actually lead to fewer disputes over content — but creators still shouldn’t read pitches in their DMs.
BY THR Magazine -
Business
California Man Indicted in Alleged Scheme Using Name of ‘I Love Lucy’ Production Company to Trick Investors
Federal prosecutors claim a man used the name 'Desilu' — the production company behind 'I Love Lucy' and the original 'Star Trek' that was founded by Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball — to dupe investors.
BY Winston Cho -
Business
“The Oprah Effect”: Harpo Sues Oprahdemics Podcast for Using Her Famous Name Without a License
Harpo Inc., which owns Oprah's trademarks, is suing Kellie Carter Jackson and Leah Wright Rigueur over their podcast.
THR, Esq's Latest News
That Was My Idea! How Hollywood Is Avoiding Story Theft Claims
A ragtag group of misfits, each with their own unique skill, bands together to pull off a high-stakes con. Depending on your preferences and streaming subscriptions, the film that comes to mind could be the 1955 classic Rififi, this year’s DreamWorks animated comedy The Bad Guys or any of the dozens of other heist movies […]
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California Man Indicted in Alleged Scheme Using Name of ‘I Love Lucy’ Production Company to Trick Investors
A California man has some ‘splaining to do. Federal prosecutors have charged Charles Hensley with nearly a dozen counts of wire fraud and allege he swindled investors by falsely claiming to be with Desilu, the production company behind I Love Lucy and the original Star Trek. Hensley ensnared a Los Angeles animation studio and postproduction […]
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“The Oprah Effect”: Harpo Sues Oprahdemics Podcast for Using Her Famous Name Without a License
Oprah Winfrey is so famous that she’s on a first-name basis with people across the globe — and many people recognize her brand by just the first letter. Harpo Inc., which owns her trademarks, carefully vets any licensing opportunity. Now it’s taking a podcasting duo to court over what it says is an unauthorized attempt […]
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Kevin Spacey Must Pay $31M in ‘House of Cards’ Dispute, Judge Affirms
Kevin Spacey has lost his bid to overturn a $31 million arbitration award he was ordered to pay House of Cards producer MRC for sexual misconduct involving young crewmembers behind the scenes of the Netflix series. Spacey was dropped from the Netflix series during its sixth season after allegations surfaced that he preyed on young […]
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Endeavor Can’t Evade Consultant’s Suit Over IPO Marketing
Endeavor must face a claim from a consultant who says its debut on the public market was salvaged thanks to his blueprint of the company’s business model. David Carde may have created an implied contract with Endeavor when his attorney emailed CEO Ari Emanuel his analysis that illustrated how its hodgepodge of unrelated acquisitions is […]
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Disney Settles Credit Card Fees Suit Days After Filing
Less than a week after suing, Disney has settled an antitrust lawsuit against Visa and Mastercard accusing the credit card companies of charging bloated processing fees. According to a court document filed Wednesday, Disney moved to dismiss the suit. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. The suit revolved around interchange fees, which credit card companies […]
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‘Paradise Square’ Director, Choreographers Take Legal Action on Owed Payments
Broadway musical Paradise Square is facing another legal complaint, this time from the union representing the directors and choreographers who worked on the show. The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society is seeking to enforce payment of owed royalties, fees and pension and health contributions to the musical’s director, Moisés Kaufman, choreographer Bill T. Jones, and […]
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Netflix Sues Co-Creators of ‘The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical’ Over “For-Profit” Performances
Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear are being sued by Netflix for staging “for-profit” performances of their Grammy-winning Unofficial Bridgerton Musical. In a lawsuit filed on Friday to a D.C. District Court, the streamer alleges that the duo and their company Barlow & Bear have profited off of “valuable intellectual property from the Netflix original series […]
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CAA Loses COVID-19 Insurance Suit
Two years after sweeping lockdowns went into effect to prevent the spread of COVID-19, case law is mounting in favor of insurers that were sued for denying claims. A California federal judge on Wednesday definitively rejected Creative Artists Agency’s suit against Affiliated FM Insurance for refusing to cover losses tied to business closures forced by […]
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Paramount Settles Suit Against ‘Mission: Impossible’ Insurer Over COVID-19 Production Delays
Death-defying stunts and an endless stream of unforeseen expenses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing Paramount Pictures and its financial partners to shoulder a massive $290 million budget for Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One. It’s tens of millions more than they expected to spend on the Tom Cruise-led project. Paramount will get […]
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As Feds Take Aim at Books Megadeal, Their Tactics May Be Used Against Hollywood
Federal antitrust enforcement has typically been considered through the lens of consumers. The logic goes, if a megamerger leads to lower prices and more choices, then it’s good for competition and good for the economy. Conversely, if it leads to higher prices and fewer choices, then it’s bad for competition and bad for the economy. […]
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FTC Sues to Block Meta’s Bid to Buy Virtual Reality Firm
Meta’s strategy of acquiring competitors in fledgling industries is drawing more attention from antitrust enforcers. In a lawsuit filed on Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission sued to block Meta, formerly known as Facebook, from buying game developer Within in a bid to limit the company’s reach in the virtual reality market. The complaint advances relatively […]
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