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
Actors Have Union Permission to Sell Their Voices for AI Ads
The SAG-AFTRA union, representing actors, has reached an agreement with the AI startup Narrativ. This allows actors to sell advertisers the rights to use artificial intelligence to replicate their voices while retaining control over the process.
Can a Disney+ Subscription Keep a Widower from Suing Disney in Court?
Disney claims that a man can't sue over his wife's deadly allergic reaction due to his Disney+ free trial. An outside arbitrator should settle the matter, Disney said in a legal filing, because the man had agreed to settle any disputes out of court.
Kevin Hart Accused of Fabricating Evidence In $12-Million Lawsuit by Former Friend
A former friend of Kevin Hart has accused Hart in a lawsuit of submitting fabricated evidence to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office stemming from his 2017 sex tape scandal and alleged that investigators accepted the evidence and acted upon it without proper vetting.
‘SEAL Team’ Writer Discrimination Lawsuit Moves Forward After Judge Rejects CBS’ Dismissal Attempt
A U.S. District Court judge has rejected an attempt by CBS Studio to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a former member of the SEAL Team writing staff who alleged that he was denied employment and job opportunities in favor of less qualified applicants in “favored” groups, i.e., nonwhite, LGBTQ, and female.
Authorities Charge Five People for Giving Matthew Perry Ketamine
Matthew Perry’s personal assistant, two doctors, and two others have been indicted and charged with providing the ketamine that caused his death.
Arts
Illinois Governor Pritzker Signs Groundbreaking HB 4875 Into Law, Protecting Artists' Rights in the Age of AI
The Recording Academy celebrates a major victory as Illinois becomes the second state to enact legislation safeguarding artists' likeness from generative AI.
SiriusXM Swipes Back at SoundExchange’s $150 Million Unpaid Royalties Suit, Urging Dismissal and Damages for Counterclaims
SiriusXM recently responded with counterclaims to SoundExchange's lawsuit, alleging over $150 million in unpaid royalties. SoundExchange claims SiriusXM artificially inflated webcasting revenue in joint satellite and online radio packages, resulting in significant unlawful savings for the company.
Four Years After Buying Barry Manilow’s Catalog, Hipgnosis Is Suing Over a Bonus Payments Dispute
Hipgnosis Songs Fund (HSF) has exited the London Stock Exchange, but its story isn’t over yet. The IP acquisition company is reportedly spearheading a multimillion-dollar complaint against Barry Manilow over bonus payments.
Mariah Carey Asks Judge to Drop ‘All I Want for Christmas’ Copyright Lawsuit
The singer and her co-defendants argue that the holiday mega-hit shares only "fragmentary and commonplace building blocks of expression" with an earlier song.
Missouri Woman Charged in Scheme to Defraud Presleys and Sell Graceland
Lisa Jeanine Findley was arrested and accused of a brazen effort to foreclose on Elvis Presley’s home in Memphis.
Man Who Claims He Was Injured In 'Sprinkle Pit' Sues Museum Of Ice Cream
A father who sustained a fracture during a visit to the immersive attraction in Manhattan in 2023 is suing the company for unspecified damages.
The-Dream Files Motion to Dismiss and Strike Portions of Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Singer-songwriter The-Dream, best known for his work with Beyoncé and Rihanna, has filed a motion to dismiss and strike significant portions of a sexual assault lawsuit that a woman named Chanaaz Mangroe filed against him in early June.
Judge Rules Nick Carter Can’t Sue Accuser for Defamation: ‘The Truth Is an Absolute Defense’
A Nevada judge ruled that the Backstreet Boys singer admitted to having sex with Ashley Repp when she was 15, so Repp didn't defame him when she later called him a "rapist."
The Beats Go On: Trump Keeps Dancing as Artists Get Outraged Over His Use of Their Songs
Former president Donald Trump continues to be threatened with lawsuits and cease-and-desist notices due to the Republican presidential nominee using copyright-protected songs at rallies.
Behind the Pageantry of Shen Yun, Untreated Injuries and Emotional Abuse
As the popular dance show grew into an international juggernaut, some of the group’s young performers paid a steep price.
Sports
Dearica Hamby Files Federal Lawsuit Against WNBA and the Aces, Alleging Unlawful Workplace Discrimination, Retaliation
Dearica Hamby, a forward for the Los Angeles Sparks, has filed a lawsuit against the WNBA and the Las Vegas Aces, alleging workplace discrimination and retaliation. She claims the team treated her differently after she announced her pregnancy and traded her because of it.
Lawsuit Challenging NCAA’s Ban of Canadian Hockey League Players Could Upend College Hockey
The NCAA was accused of boycotting Canadian Hockey League players from Division I competition in a class-action lawsuit that, if successful, could end college hockey’s longstanding ban on players deemed to be professionals.
Gymnastics Officials Let Down Jordan Chiles and Other Athletes, But Unwilling To Give Three Bronzes, Court Says
In a 29-page ruling, the Court of Arbitration for Sport stated that Olympic officials stripped Chiles of her first individual medal due to officiating errors by the global governing body for gymnastics. The governing body was unwilling to award medals to all three gymnasts, despite each athlete having a case for the bronze.
Head of Panel That Ruled Against Jordan Chiles Represents Romania in Other Cases
The decision outraged U.S. Olympic and gymnastics officials and led to a torrent of online abuse against Chiles and Ana Barbosu, the Romanian athlete who ultimately won the bronze.
Romanian Gymnast Ana Bărbosu Receives Bronze Medal After Jordan Chiles Stripped of Her Award
The Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee hosted the ceremony in Bucharest, Romania’s capital, for Bărbosu, who received her medal, an Olympic poster, and a mascot like other medal recipients in Paris. Romania’s prime minister, Marcel Ciolacu, presented her with a floral bouquet before Bărbosu spoke.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5705001/2024/08/16/ana-barbosu-bronze-medal-jordan-chiles-olympics/
Afghan Athlete Manizha Talash Disqualified for Calling for Freedom
Refugee breaker Talash, also known as "b-girl Talash," was disqualified from the first-ever Olympic breaking competition for wearing a cape that said, "Free Afghan Women" during her pre-qualifier battle against India Sardjoe, also known as "b-girl India." This action violated Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, prohibiting political, religious, or racial demonstrations or propaganda.
J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk Named in Imane Khelif’s Lawsuit Over Olympics Gender Row
Rowling referred to the boxer as a ‘male’ and accused her of ‘enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head.’
When Olympic Sponsors Go Rogue
LVMH and Samsung intruded on previously sacrosanct spaces at the Paris Games, angering fellow sponsors and raising concerns.
‘The Blind Side’ Made Him Famous, but He Has a Different Story to Tell
Football player Michael Oher believes the Oscar-winning movie and the book it was based on misrepresented his early life.
Notre Dame Has Suspended Its Men's Swimming Program For At Least One Academic Year
Notre Dame suspended its men's swimming program for at least one year after an external review found team members violated NCAA rules by wagering among themselves on the results of their competitions and failed to “treat one another with dignity and respect.”
Michigan State Sued by Quiz Creator Over Hitler Question Streamed on Videoboards At Football Game
Michigan State is being sued over an Adolf Hitler question displayed on Spartan Stadium screens before a game last season. The quiz's creator claims that the university didn't have permission to use the product, which was not intended for mass-market use at an American college football game.
Technology/Media
Judge Blocks Joint Sports Streaming Service From Media Giants
The planned service from Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery was slated to cost $42.99 monthly and aimed at fans who had abandoned cable TV.
F.B.I. Resumes Flagging Foreign Disinformation to Social Media Giants
The Justice Department set new guidelines for agents to share tips with Facebook, X, and other platforms, after a legal challenge prompted a suspension of that communication.
Federal Trade Commission Finalizes Ban on Companies Buying And Selling Fake Online Reviews
The Federal Trade Commission has banned companies from buying or selling fake online reviews. The ban also covers the trafficking of fake reviews, prohibits buying and selling fabricated views or followers on social media, and prohibits intimidation tactics to remove negative reviews.
Google Has Unleashed Its Legal Fury on Hackers and Scammers
The tech giant says its “affirmative litigation” deters and raises awareness of bad behavior. Skeptics wonder whether these suits are too small a gesture.
This Georgia Republican Defied Trump. Now He’s Fighting a Defamation Suit.
The secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, has spent $500,000 defending himself in court. He says that the plaintiff will only settle if he effectively endorses a debunked conspiracy theory about the 2020 election.
Texas Sues G.M. Over Collection and Selling of Driver Data
The lawsuit accuses the automaker of tricking drivers into sharing detailed driving records that were sold to insurance companies.
San Francisco Moves to Lead Fight Against Deepfake Nudes
City Attorney David Chiu has filed a lawsuit seeking to permanently shutter 16 popular websites that turn images of real girls and women into pornography.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt Says AI Companies Steal IP Then ‘Hire A Whole Bunch of Lawyers to Go Clean the Mess Up’
The video of the interview was taken down after Schmidt's comments about how working from home cost Google the AI race. He highlighted the 'better to ask forgiveness than permission' mentality in Silicon Valley's approach to hoovering up data.
General News
Trump Seeks to Delay His Sentencing Until After the Election
Donald J. Trump, who has routinely sought delays in his four criminal cases, wants to use the extra time to fight his conviction on 34 felony counts in Manhattan.
Former Pro-Trump County Clerk Is Found Guilty of Tampering with Voting Machines
Tina Peters, the former Mesa County, Colorado clerk, was convicted of tampering with voting machines. She could face multiple years in prison when she is sentenced in October.
Biden and Harris Reunite to Celebrate Deal on Drug Prices
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris made their first joint public appearance since Biden dropped out of the race. Trump, taking reporter questions hours later, said he was “entitled to personal attacks” against Harris.
Transfers and Pay Cuts: Pregnant Officers Accuse Border Agency of Discrimination
Under a $45 million settlement, Customs and Border Protection agreed to adjust its policy around pregnancy. Some women say the agency has instilled a culture of shame and perpetuated a fear of retaliation.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Cannot Appear on New York Ballot, Judge Rules
The ruling was a blow to Kennedy’s independent campaign for president. The judge said he had used a “sham” address to claim residency in New York.
Arizona Court Sides with G.O.P. Over Abortion Language
The Arizona Supreme Court ruled that informational brochures the state sends to voters can use the term “unborn human being” to describe an embryo or a fetus. Voters will decide in November whether to establish a right to abortion in the state constitution.
Trump Made $300,000 for Endorsing Bible, Financial Disclosure Shows
Trump also listed $100 million in liabilities over judgments he owes in civil cases and over $1 million in crypto holdings.
Biden Designates Illinois Race Riot Site as a National Monument
Biden designated a national monument at the site of a 1908 race riot that laid waste to a Black community in Springfield. The new national monument commemorates a violent attack by a white mob on a Black community, representing the racism and violence experienced by Black Americans nationwide.
U.C.L.A. Can't Let Protesters Block Jewish Students from Campus
The judge's temporary ruling said that protests that prevent Jewish students from accessing parts of the campus violated religious freedom rights.
False Advertising Lawsuits Claim Carter’s, The Gap, and Banana Republic Post Fake Price Discounts at Factory Outlets and Online
The Gap, Banana Republic, and Carter’s face false advertising lawsuits. The companies are accused of deceiving consumers with misleading price disparities for sale items, leading shoppers to believe they are getting good deals.
Judge Finds Flaws in New York City's Cannabis Enforcement Efforts
The city has appealed the judge's ruling in favor of a convenience store in Queens that could have broader implications for enforcement.
Judge Who Had Teenager Handcuffed on Field Trip Is Temporarily Removed from Docket
Detroit Judge Kenneth King said he had acted after the girl, 15, responded with “attitude” when he scolded her for dozing off in court.
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