By Giancarla Sambo
Edited by Elissa D. Hecker
Below, for your browsing convenience, the categories are divided into: Entertainment, Arts, Sports, Technology/Media, and General News:
Entertainment
UMG Sues Believe and TuneCore For ‘Industrial-Scale’ Infringement and Believe Responds With: ‘We Strongly Refute These Claims’
Universal Music Group sued Believe and TuneCore for "industrial-scale copyright infringement." The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of UMG, Capital Records, Capital CMG, ABKCO Music & Records, and Concord Music Group. The co-plaintiffs seek at least $500 million in damages. They accuse Believe and TuneCore of distributing tracks by fraudulent artists and pirate labels, including sped-up versions, and abusing YouTube’s ContentID to claim false royalties. Believe plans to push back strongly, but notes that this is pending litigation.
‘The Pitt’ Is Not A “Derivative Work” Of ‘ER,’ Warner Bros. TV Says in Response to Michael Crichton Estate Suit
Warner Bros. Television, known for NBC’s “ER” and the upcoming Max drama “The Pitt,” has responded to Sherri Crichton’s August breach of contract lawsuit on behalf of the John Michael Crichton Trust. "The Pitt is completely different from ER,” the filing states. “Plaintiff cannot wield Mr. Crichton’s ER contract to stop Defendants from creating a show about emergency medicine.”
What Is Trouble? ‘Jeopardy’ And ‘Wheel of Fortune’ at Center of Million-Dollar Lawsuit Between Media Giants
Sony Pictures Television, producer of ‘Jeopardy!’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune’, sued CBS for undercutting their deal and failing to pay millions in fees. “CBS has fallen short of its bargain,” Sony alleged in a breach of contract suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. “CBS has egregiously undermined the value and profitability of these shows for its self-interest, violating its contractual obligations.”
Judge ‘Inclined’ to Rule in Mariah Carey’s Favor in ‘All I Want for Christmas’ Copyright Lawsuit
The copyright case centers around claims from Mississippi artist Vince Vance that Carey's perennial holiday hit infringes upon his own 1989 song of the same name.
Banned From Atlanta: The Challenges of Young Thug's Unique Probation
Young Thug was released after pleading guilty in Georgia's most extended criminal trial. The deal includes probation and ends his involvement in the trial, which began in January 2023.
Quincy Jones, Giant of American Music, Dies at 91
As a producer, he made the best-selling album of all time, Michael Jackson's “Thriller. He was also a prolific arranger and composer of film music.
Comedians in Court as U.K. Trial Kicks Off Over Sitcom ‘Copied’ by Steve Coogan’s Production Company
London’s High Court resembled the Comedy Store as entertainers testified in a case over a “copied” sitcom. Comedian Harry Deansway, under his legal name Joshua Rinkoff, claims Steve Coogan’s company Baby Cow copied his 2013 YouTube series “Shambles,” which mixed sitcom and stand-up.
Arts
Investigators Say a High-Profile Dealer Trafficked 2,000 Looted Artifacts
Edoardo Almagià was charged with conspiracy, taking part in a scheme to defraud, and possessing stolen property owned by Italy. Matthew Bogdanos, the head of the Manhattan district attorney's antiquities trafficking unit, appeared before criminal court Judge Rachel Pauley to obtain the warrant.
Philharmonic Dismisses 2 Players Over Sexual Misconduct
The orchestra said an inquiry found credible claims against the musicians of sexual assault and harassment. The musicians denied the charges.
Steven Madden C.E.O. Says It Is Moving Production Out of China
Higher tariffs proposed under President-elect Trump prompted Steve Madden to shift shoe production from China. Steve Madden aims to reduce Chinese production to avoid these tariffs, which may raise prices for American consumers if retailers pass costs on to shoppers.
Librarians Face a Crisis of Violence and Abuse
Libraries are facing burnout as they become public venues for social issues like homelessness, drug use, and mental health. They remain one of the few indoor spaces where individuals can gather without needing a membership or purchase.
The Savior of 'Satanic Verses' in India
In 1988, India issued an order forbidding the import of Salman Rushdie's novel Satanic Verses. A Delhi Court overturned the order this week, not because of free speech, but because no one could find it.
Sports
Supreme Court Allows National Horse Racing Safety Rules to Stay in Effect, For Now
The Supreme Court is allowing national medication and anti-doping rules for horse racing to remain while a court fight unfolds. The Court upheld a 5th U.S. Circuit Court ruling that Congress gave excessive power to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, which administers these rules.
World Athletics Reveals Alarming Findings on Online Abuse of Athletes
World Athletics reported that racism and sexualized abuse were prevalent in online posts targeting athletes during the Paris Olympics. Evidence shows racism accounted for 18% and sexualized abuse 30%, together comprising over 48% of total abuse, with general abuse at 32% release
College Athletes Are Getting Paid and Fans Are Starting to See a Growing Share of The Bill
Tennessee is adding a ‘talent fee’ to sports tickets, while Arkansas will increase concession prices by 3%. Michigan and Michigan State athletic directors informed boosters that winning would cost more.
San Jose State Women's Volleyball Team Finds Itself at Center of Transgender Debate
After reports that the team includes a transgender player, several schools have forfeited matches against the university out of protest. The San Jose State University women's volleyball team is trying to make the N.C.A.A.
Michael Jordan's 23XI, NASCAR Have First Preliminary Injunction Request
To boost revenues and influence for NASCAR Cup Series teams, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports sued NASCAR and Chairman Jim France. They filed the lawsuit on Oct. 2 in federal court in Charlotte, claiming that NASCAR's actions violate antitrust laws.
Palworld Developer Reports Nintendo's Suing Over 3 Pokémon Patents for Only $66,000 In Damages, But A Videogame IP Lawyer Says Fighting the Lawsuit Could Mean 'Burning Millions of Dollars'
Palworld developer Pocketpair published a report on the intellectual property lawsuit Nintendo filed against the studio in September. Nintendo alleged that Palworld "infringes multiple patent rights," without specifying which patents, leading to speculation about its claim regarding third-person Poké Ball throwing.
The 'Super Bowl of Pickleball' Looks to Grow the Sport
A world championship in Texas is flush with cash and star players as the Professional Pickleball Association tries to turn amateur interest into long-term fandom.
What To Know About the Attacks on Israeli Soccer Fans in Amsterdam
Dutch and Israeli officials described the clashes after a soccer match as antisemitic. The violence followed two days of tensions in the city.
Technology/Media
'Zero Tolerance': WEBTOON Cracks Down on Pirates in New $700k+ Copyright Lawsuit
NAVER WEBTOON, the parent company of the U.S. WEBTOON platform, has zero tolerance for copyright infringement and is seeking $1Bbillion won in a piracy lawsuit. In a press release, NAVER WEBTOON announced a filing against "illegal website" operators to uphold its zero-tolerance principle.
Google Asked to Remove 10 Billion “Pirate” Search Results
Rightsholders have asked Google to remove more than 10 billion 'copyright infringing' URLs from its search results. The search engine doesn't celebrate the milestone in any way, but the takedown notices document intriguing shifts in volume over time and shifting takedown interests.
Former Denver Election Worker Suing on The Basis That TV Show Comments Led to Firing
A former Denver Elections Division supervisor has filed a federal lawsuit claiming she was fired in 2022 for discussing election security on “The Problem with Jon Stewart.” Virginia Chau, a Voting Service Polling Center Supervisor from 2018 to 2022, appeared on an Apple TV+ episode titled, “Midterms: This Is What Democracy Looks Like?”
New York State Chosen as National Center for Chip Manufacturing
The Biden administration is establishing a national semiconductor technology hub in upstate New York, with Albany as a central location. This hub, part of the National Semiconductor Technology Center, will focus on computer chip research.
The Humble Bumblebee Just Messed Things Up for Meta
A Financial Times report states that a rare bumblebee species has hindered Meta's construction project. Consequently, the tech giant has abandoned plans for a nuclear-powered AI data center on that land.
Malware Operators Use Copyright Notices to Lure in Businesses
Malware operators exploit copyright claims to deceive targets. Cisco Talos reports an attack in Taiwan spreading via phishing emails with malware attachments.
Apple Faces Fine in First Charge Under EU’s Digital Markets Act
Apple will be fined by EU antitrust regulators, becoming the first company sanctioned under the Digital Markets Act. Charged in June with breaching tech rules, the fine is expected later this month but may change. Violating the DMA could result in penalties of up to 10% of global turnover.
Canada Orders TikTok to Close Its Business in The Country—But Won’t Block the App
Canada announced that it won’t block TikTok. However, it will dissolve its Canadian business after reviewing national security risks related to ByteDance Ltd. Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne stated that this measure addresses concerns over TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
General News
Trump Wins 2024 Presidential Election, Defeating Harris
Trump played on fears of immigrants and economic worries to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris. His victory signaled the advent of isolationism, sweeping tariffs, and score-settling.
Republicans Clinch Control of the Senate
Senator Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, was defeated in his bid for a fourth term by luxury car dealer Bernie Moreno. Brown’s loss followed Gov. Jim Justice of West Virginia winning the seat vacated by retiring Senator Joe Manchin III, who served most of his career as a Democrat, but became an independent this year.
Trump Is Set to Transform Washington as G.O.P. Extends Gains
Trump’s victory will transform Washington. He has a Senate majority for loyalist confirmations, and Republicans may retain the House. After congratulating Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at Howard University, stating, “I concede this election, but not the fight that fueled this campaign.”
What to Know About Trump's New York Criminal Case After the Election
The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump is the only criminal case against the former president that went to trial. Now that Trump has reclaimed the presidency, this case is at risk.
After Trump Took the Lead, Election Deniers Went Suddenly Silent
Silent Trump supporters spent years fomenting concern about election integrity. On Tuesday, they set it all aside.
Judge Grants Jack Smith's Request for Pause in Jan. 6 Case After Trump's Election
The special counsel asked for time to assess how to proceed now that Trump is returning to the White House, which has triggered a Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president.
Elon Musk Helped Elect Trump. What Does He Expect in Return?
The world’s richest man gave his money and time in campaigning for the president-elect and now is putting in his requests for a friendlier regulatory environment.
Musk’s $1 Million Voter Lottery Triggers Class Action Fraud Lawsuit
The new class action, like a prior complaint from the Philadelphia DA, alleges that America PAC deceptively advertised its promotion and did not select winners randomly; therefore, it claims that the giveaway was not a lottery.
Former Adams Aide Is in Plea Talks in Federal Witness Tampering Case
A former City Hall aide charged with tampering with witnesses in the federal corruption investigation into Mayor Eric Adams is talking with prosecutors about a potential guilty plea — raising the possibility that he might cooperate with them against the mayor.
Jan. 6 Defendants Are Already Angling for Pardons from Trump
The legal consequences of Trump’s victory may reduce the cases against him and impact the prosecutions of his supporters charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol storming. On the campaign trail, Trump promised to pardon some of the 1,500 charged, potentially including leaders of far-right groups.
Plea Deals for Accused 9/11 Plotters Are Valid, Judge Rules
A military judge ruled that plea agreements in the Sept. 11 case were valid, reviving the possibility that the man accused of planning the attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, and two accused accomplices could eventually be sentenced to life in prison instead of death.
Rudy Giuliani's Delay in Handing Over Prized Assets Makes Judge Livid
A federal judge threatened Rudolph W. Giuliani with a contempt charge after a missed deadline to hand over prized possessions, including Yankees swag.
How Russia Openly Escalated Its Election Interference Efforts
The Kremlin did not hide its efforts to influence the 2024 presidential election, as it had in the past.
Mexico's Top Court Dismisses Proposal to Invalidate Key Parts of The Judicial Reform
The move spares the country's new president from choosing between recognizing a court decision to strike down the overhaul or aligning with her party’s leaders and ignoring it.
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