Former Assistant Sues Wayans Brothers, Says They Jacked His Jokes

The Wayans Brothers got jokes, but a former assistant says they stole some of them, and he’s filed suit in Los Angeles federal court. According to the Hollywood Reporter’s Hollywood, Esq. blog, Jared Edwards claims that while he worked for the Wayans he wrote jokes about women who target rich…

Jun 30, 2011 8:35 PM CDT

Copyright Dispute over Tattoo in ‘Hangover II’ Is Settled

A tattoo artist has settled his lawsuit claiming The Hangover Part II used his copyrighted design on the face of actor Ed Helms. Terms of the settlement were not revealed, report the Associated Press and the Hollywood Reporter. Tattoo artist S. Victor Whitmill had claimed in his suit that the…

Jun 22, 2011 10:30 AM CDT

As Judge Considers Righthaven Sanctions, Bloggers Who Settled Mull Options

A federal judge’s ruling that a copyright troll had no standing to sue for copyright violations has bloggers who already settled lawsuits mulling their next step. Chief U.S. District Judge Roger Hunt of Nevada tossed the suit against Righthaven on Tuesday. The judge ruled the company had no standing to…

Jun 17, 2011 3:45 PM CDT

Around the Blawgosphere: ‘Hangover II’ Tattoo May Be Altered on DVD; Weiner’s Behavior Harassment?

Tattoo in ‘Hangover II’ May Be Altered on DVD The Hollywood Reporter blawg Hollywood, Esq. reported exclusively this week that Warner Bros. has told a Missouri judge in court documents that if litigation over the tattoo on the face of actor Ed Helms in The Hangover II and its promotional…

Jun 10, 2011 1:30 PM CDT

New Downloading Lawsuit Blitz Focuses on Those Who Allegedly Used BitTorrent to Get ‘Hurt Locker’

A controversial tactic of suing, or threatening to sue, en masse, thousands of individuals who have allegedly violated the law by illegally downloading copyrighted material is now focusing on a new target. Almost 50,000 individuals claimed to have used BitTorrent’s peer-to-peer software to download one of two movies (The Expendables…

Jun 10, 2011 11:33 AM CDT

After Reversal-of-Fortune Win, Bratz Doll Maker Seeks $130M in Legal Fees

Corrected: After a stunning turnaround win in a copyright case, Bratz doll manufacturer MGA Entertainment is seeking nearly $130 million in legal fees. U.S. District Judge David Carter of Los Angeles will hold a hearing today on MGA’s claim for $177 million in punitive damages, along with restitution, attorney fees…

May 25, 2011 2:54 PM CDT

Judge Rules ‘Hangover II’ May Be Released, Despite Copyright Dispute over Tattoo

Updated: The show must go on, according to a federal judge ruling in a copyright dispute involving a tattoo. The Hangover: Part II was allowed to open this week after U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry refused to issue an injunction barring its release, according to The Wrap and Hollywood, Esq.…

May 24, 2011 3:44 PM CDT

Teen Who Amassed Twitter Followers Claims Business Partner Stole Branding Rights

A teen who amassed more than 300,000 Twitter followers in less than a year claims in a federal lawsuit that his business partner deceived him into turning over his intellectual property. The 17-year-old teen, Adorian Deck, tweeted celebrity gossip and oddball news under the name @OMGFacts, the Associated Press reports.…

May 17, 2011 10:30 AM CDT

LimeWire Settles Infringement Claims for $105M; Recording Companies Initially Wanted $75T

The online file-sharing company LimeWire and its founder Mark Gorton have reached a $105 million settlement with major recording companies in the middle of a federal trial to determine damages for infringement. At one time the recording companies had sought $75 trillion in damages, but Judge Kimba Wood had rejected…

May 13, 2011 12:45 PM CDT

Do You Ever Notice Copyright / Trademark Infringement? Does It Bother You?

You’re missing out if you haven’t visited Regretsy—a blog that for the last year or two has found humor in products sold, and how said products are sold, on Etsy.com, a Web store that features (allegedly) handmade and vintage goods. Among Regretsy’s 30-some categories is Copyright Infringements, which points to…

May 4, 2011 4:00 PM CDT

Suit Says Facebook Violates NY Law When Minors ‘Like’ Products Without Parents’ OK

A federal lawsuit filed today in Brooklyn, N.Y., contends Facebook Inc. is violating state advertising law by allowing minors to “like” products on the social networking site without getting parental permission. The action seeks damages under a state civil rights law that bans using an individual’s likeness for advertising purposes…

May 2, 2011 10:45 PM CDT

A Trove of Historic Jazz Recordings has Found a Home in Harlem, But You Can’t Hear Them

May 1, 2011 9:40 AM CDT

Mike Tyson’s Tattoo Artist Sues Warner Bros., Says Studio Pirated Copy on Actor’s Face in New Movie

The artist who created an unusual tattoo on the left side of prizefighter Mike Tyson’s face has sued Warner Bros., contending that the studio pirated its work by putting the same tattoo on the face of an actor in its new movie The Hangover 2. S. Victor Whitmill says in…

Apr 29, 2011 11:44 PM CDT

Mattel Loses Latest Bratz Doll Trial, Owes MGA $88M, Possibly Trebled

A verdict has been reached by a federal jury in a copyright infringement case filed by Barbie manufacturer Mattel Inc. over MGA Entertainment’s popular Bratz dolls. In a major reversal of fortune for Mattel, which won a $100 million award in an earlier trial of the same case and had…

Apr 21, 2011 6:38 PM CDT

Florida Man Seeks Copyright Compensation for ‘Da-da-da-da-da-da! Charge!’

A Florida man says in a lawsuit that he’s not getting proper compensation for his original composition used by pro sports teams across the nation. The seven-syllable song: “Da-da-da-da-da-da! Charge!” Bobby Kent of Pompano Beach says he wrote the ditty when he was music director for the San Diego Chargers…

Apr 20, 2011 1:48 PM CDT