Week In Review
- Elissa D. Hecker - Editor
- Mar 31
- 9 min read
By Jessie Schuster
Edited by Elissa D. Hecker
Entertainment
‘Moana’ Verdict
An LA jury decided there was no evidence that “Moana” creators had seen the unproduced project, “Bucky the Surfer Boy”, and therefore Disney was cleared of copyright infringement claims brought against it. The case was half a decade long and cost millions of dollars in legal fees.
Judge Rules That AI Can Continue Training on Copyrighted Lyrics, For Now
While a judge ruled that an AI can continue using copyrighted lyrics for training by denying UMG’s request for an injunction, the court has yet to determine whether the use of training using lyrics is illegal.
Music Publishers ‘Remain Very Confident’ of Winning Anthropic Case and Will ‘Vigorously Pursue’ Monetary Damages
A CA Judge denied music publishers’ request to block Anthropic from using song lyrics for AI training, but granted them the tools to strengthen their case, leaving the publishers confident in seeking monetary damages.
Lydia Harris’ $107M Death Row Records Lawsuit is Moving Forward – Pretrial Conference Officially Scheduled
Lydia Harris, ex-wife of Death Row co-founder Michael Harris, will proceed in her lawsuit against Snoop Dogg, Suge Knight, Jimmy Lovine, and Lucian Grainge where she claims the defendants “engaged in a deliberate and coordinated scheme to obstruct justice, conceal assets, and evade liability.”
The New Normal? California Entertainment Industry Work Sees Modest Growth as Production Levels Lag
Despite nearly 15,000 jobs being added last year, an Otis College report shows that employment in California’s entertainment industry remains significantly below pre-strike levels.
Confirmed: Concord Acquires Stem
Concord Label Group has officially announced its acquisition of Stem, an LA-based distribution platform. The company’s growth is paired with an investment in Tone, which will act as an independent royalty accounting platform.
Duke Upset Logo Was Shown in Troubling “White Lotus” Suicide Scene Without Permission
Duke University’s VP of communications made a strong statement regarding Duke’s registered trademarks, stating that the “White Lotus’s” creative choice to have a character wear Duke clothing while reflecting suicidal thoughts “creates confusion and mistakenly suggests an endorsement or affiliation where none exists.”
Brazilian Authorities Tackle $28M Streaming Fraud with Operation ‘Out of Tune’
Brazil’s Operation Out of Tune, which is backed by the IFPI , APDIF, and Pro-Música Brazil, successfully arrested an individual who generated millions of fake plays on streaming platforms, which steals royalties directly from artists and distorts the music charts.
French Actor Gérard Depardieu Arrives in Court for Sexual Assault Trial
After a five-month delay, French actor Gérard Depardieu arrived in court for his sexual assault trial against two women who accused him of assaulting them during the filming of Les Volets Verts.
NJZ Debuts New Song ‘Pit Stop’ at ComplexCon Hong Kong, Announces Hiatus
K-Pop group NJZ debuted its new song ‘Pit Stop’ and also shared with fans that the performance would likely be their last one for a while. The announcement comes after a preliminary injunction prohibited the band from organizing its own appearances and conducting its own activities, including writing music and signing ad deals.
Mob Descends on a Comedy Club After a Comic Jokes About a Politician
Comedian Kunal Kamra is under investigation for defamation after making a joke about Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minester Eknath Shinde. The joke led to an angry mob attacking the comedy club where the joke was made.
Arts
‘It Reminds You of a Fascist State’: Smithsonian Institution Braces for President Trump’s Rewrite of History
President Trump’s recent Executive Order targeting the Smithsonian due what he claimed was “promoting divisive or anti-American ideologies related to race and gender” has sparked alarm for historians, who fear this is an attempt to rewrite history.
Iowa Law Banning School Library Books That Depict Sex Acts on Hold Again After a New Federal Ruling
A federal judge has temporarily blocked part of Iowa’s law banning school library books that depict sex acts in the second reprieve for publishers who sued the state, arguing that the law is overly broad and violates constitutional rights.
Gibson Wins a Second Ruling in Trademark Case Against Dean Guitars, But May Lose ‘Generic’ ES Body Shape Trademark
Armadillo, the parent company of Dean Guitars, has been found guilty of trademark infringement and counterfeiting by a jury in their case against Gibson. The Jury also found that the ES body shape is generic, and should therefore not be trademarkable by Gibson.
Everything You Need to Know About the Frick Collection’s Grand Reopening
The Frick Collection in NYC is officially reopening following completion of major renovation, which includes a 10% space expansion and an enhancement of exhibition areas.
French Art Expert on Trial Over Forged Furniture at Versailles
French art expert Bill Pallot is on trial after being accused of selling furniture he built as 18th century pieces.
Tomb of Unidentified Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Discovered
Archaeologists have discovered the tomb of an ancient Egyptian King, marking the finding as the second discovery of a tomb in Egypt this year.
Sports
The Evolving Landscape of College Student-Athlete Compensation
The outcomes of Johnson v. NCAA and House v. NCAA could reshape college athletics as we know them by potentially allowing direct payment to student athletes for their name, image, and likeness (NIL) by exploring the potential of recognizing the athletes as employees. These outcomes could lead to changes in financial responsibilities, student-athlete opportunities, and institutional policies, while raising questions about Title IX compliance.
ESPN Is Accused of Harassment and Retaliation in Legal Letter from Executive Editor
ESPN Executive Editor Cristina Daglas’s attorney has sent a cease-and-desist letter to ESPN over an ongoing investigation into her conduct and her administrative leave since January. The letter accuses the sports network of unlawful harassment and retaliation, while claiming the investigation is “meritless and unsubstantiated.”
Yankees RSN Faces Comcast Blackout Threat Ahead of Opening Day
As the Yankees take home plate to kick start the season, the team’s home channel, the YES Network, could be blacked out on Comcast due to a contract dispute. Without a new deal by the first game, the channel will be dark across the NY area.
World Athletics: Track and Field Athletes Will Have to Undergo Mandatory Sex Testing
In efforts to “maintain the integrity of women’s sports,” World Athletics will begin conducting DNA tests on female athletes to ensure that they are biologically female before competing. This is the furthest measure any Olympic governing body has taken thus far to determine eligibility to compete.
Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini Acquitted Again at Second Trial of Financial Wrongdoing at FIFA
For the second time in a decade-long trial for fraud, forgery, and mismanagement of over $2M in FIFA funds, Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were acquitted of their charges.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen Testifies at Father’s Abuse Trial: Childhood Tied to Fear
Double Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen testified against his father, Gjert Ingebrigtsen, who is currently facing child abuse charges. The Olympian described surviving a childhood of fear, manipulation, and lack of free will.
Media & Technology
Takeaways from PBS and NPR’s Testimony on Capitol Hill
At the hearing where lawmakers considered whether public broadcasting should receive federal funding: (1) Republicans shared that they lost trust in NPR to provide balanced coverage, (2) public criticism from a former NPR editor acted as a blueprint for Republicans when he published an article that criticized the network’s news coverage, (3) Democrats said that Republicans are using this opportunity to try to distract from real news and shut down contrary opinions, and (4) lawmakers learned that public broadcasting is the only source of news and emergency broadcasts in some parts of the country.
Trump’s Former Campaign Manager Sues the Daily Beast
The co-manager of Trump’s 2024 campaign is suing the Daily Beast for defamation over reports claiming that he and his company earned millions from the campaign. He argues the reports misrepresented the payments and harmed his reputation.
Elon Musk’s AI Company Buys X in Blockbuster $33B Stock Deal
xAI has acquired X in an all-stock deal that values X at $33B and xAI at $80B. Musk claims the deal will create a platform that “accelerates human progress.”
Trump Commutes Sentence of Ozy Media Founder Carlos Watson
The president has commuted the sentence of Carlos Watson just hours before his 116 month prison term was set to begin for his conviction of fraud and identity theft. The commutation includes the removal of Watson’s probation sentence and criminal penalties for Ozy Media.
Turkey Deports BBC Journalist Over ‘Public Order’ Threat, Fines TV Channels
Turkish authorities deported a BBC journalist, citing a “public order” threat, after the journalist reported on protests following the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor. Tensions over freedom of press continued to escalate with multiple networks being hit with fines for covering the arrest.
Torrent Site Uploader and Member of ‘The Scene’ Sentenced to Prison in Denmark
A man has been sentenced to nine months in prison for uploading 74 terabytes of pirated content. Additionally, a member of ‘The Scene’ was sentenced to a year in prison for hosting servers and sharing copyrighted material.
General News
Trump Administration Urges Supreme Court to Vacate Order Reinstating Education Grant Funding
The Trump administration has asked SCOTUS to block a district court’s order reinstating federal teacher shortage grants, arguing that the U.S. Court of Federal Claims has jurisdiction over the handling of the case.
Administration Asks Supreme Court to Lift Judge’s Block on Deportations Under Alien Enemies Act
The Trump administration has asked SCOTUS to lift a temporary restraining order blocking deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. The order halts the deportation of alleged Tren de Aragua gang members, with a hearing scheduled for April 8th to discuss an extended injunction.
Senate Republican Chair Challenges Trump Over Emergency Funding Move
In a letter to Trump’s budget chief, Senator Susan Collins argues that the president cannot selectively approve emergency funding and must concur with all or none of Congress’s designations per longstanding legislative practice.
Judge Blocks DOGE From Accessing Sensitive Information at U.S. Agencies
A federal judge blocked Elon Musk’s DOGE from accessing sensitive personal data at several U.S. agencies, citing potential violations of privacy laws. The ruling came after a lawsuit from labor unions alleged unauthorized access to millions of records.
Trump Asks Justices to Block Ruling of Rehiring Federal Employees
The Trump administration has asked SCOTUS to block a ruling requiring the reinstatement of 16,000 probationary federal employees, arguing that the order interferes with the government’s employment decisions.
U.S. Judge Questions Motives Behind Nixing Deportation Relief for Venezuelans
A U.S. Judge suggests the motive behind nixing deportation protections for 600,000 Venezuelans may be racially motivated.
Federal Judge Blocks Mass Firings of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Workers
A Federal Judge blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle the CFPB, issuing a preliminary injunction to keep the agency intact until the case is resolved. The ruling comes after the firing of the agency’s director, Rohit Chopra.
Trump Signs Order Ending Union Bargaining Rights for Wide Swaths of Federal Employees
POTUS signed an executive order ending collective bargaining rights for over one million federal employees, expanding restrictions to agencies involved in national security, defense, and border security, to name a few.
Trump Gets $100M Deal with Skadden Law Firm Amid Pressure Campaign
Trump announced a $100 million deal with Skadden amid executive orders targeting law firms linked to the President’s critics.
NYSBA President Calls Latest White House Directive an Assault on the Legal Profession
Domenick Napoletano, NYSBA’s president, condemned Trump’s threats to retaliate against lawyers and judges who oppose his administration, warning that POTUS’s actions undermine the independence of the judiciary and the integrity of the legal system.
Kelly and Gallego Call on Hegseth To Resign Over War Plans Signal Chat
Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego called for Defense Secretary Hegseth’s resignation after The Atlantic revealed he shared sensitive military attack plans on an unsecured Signal chat.
Top Trump Adviser Leaving White House Two Months into Administration
Alina Habba, Trump’s former Lawyer, has been appointed interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, marking the end of her service in the White House as counselor to POTUS.
NY Shield Law Stops Texas Judgment From Being Enforced Against Abortion Provider
New York’s shield law prevented a Texas court judgment of over $100,000 from being enforced against a New York based doctor who was accused of prescribing abortion pills to a Texas patient.
Biotech Group Warns Exit of Top FDA Vaccine Official Will ‘Erode Scientific Standards’
The Biotech Innovation Organization warns that Dr. Peter Marks’ resignation from the FDA could undermine scientific standards and vaccine development following pressure from RFK Jr.
How to Protect Your DNA Data After 23andMe’s Bankruptcy Filing
California’s Attorney General is reminding millions of 23andMe users that California law allows them to delete their data and destroy their biological samples following the company’s bankruptcy filing.
France Accuses U.S. Diplomats of Meddling ‘Diktat’ About Trump’s DEI Policies
France accuses U.S. diplomats of interfering with French companies by sending a letter suggesting Trump’s rollback on DEI policies applied internationally. The letter requests that companies certify compliance with U.S. anti-discrimination laws or provide reasons for non-compliance.
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