Entertainment Law

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A recent case filed by famous choreographer Kyle Hanagami is set to test the boundaries of copyright law in video games and on social media.

Mr. Hanagami is a popular choreographer with a large YouTube presence.  He won the 2020 iHeart Music Award for Favorite Music Video Choreography for BlackPink’s “Kill This Love” and holds the title for YouTube’s most viewed choreography video of all time. Crucially, he also holds the copyright to the dance to the Charlie Puth song “How Long.”
Continue Reading Choreographer Challenges Fortnite’s Use of His Copyrighted Dance Moves

In this episode of The Briefing by the IP Law Blog, Scott Hervey and Josh Escovedo discuss a dispute between Jerry West and HBO, over his portrayal in the Lakers docudrama “Winning Time”.
Continue Reading The Briefing by the IP Law Blog: Jerry West Thinks His Portrayal in HBO’s “Winning Time” is a Loser

Last month, HBO released its new drama series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty – based on the book Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s by Jeff Pearlman. To say that Jerry West, the former head coach and GM of the Los Angeles Lakers dislikes the way he is portrayed in the HBO series Winning Time is an understatement. West calls his portrayal “false and defamatory” and he has publicly called for a retraction and an apology.  In a letter to HBO, West’s lawyer claims that Winning Time falsely and cruelly portrays West as an out-of-control, intoxicated, rage-aholic. West’s lawyer claims that the producers have committed the tort of false light invasion of privacy by creating a false impression about Mr. West that is highly offensive and injurious to his reputation and have also defamed Mr. West by attributing acts of rage to him that he never committed.
Continue Reading Is Jerry West’s Potential Lawsuit Against HBO Over His Portrayal in the Lakers Docudrama “Winning Time” a Jump Ball?

In this episode of The Briefing from the IP Law Blog, Scott Hervey and Josh Escovedo say family members behind the fashion powerhouse Gucci may take legal action following the release of the film, House of Gucci.
Continue Reading The Briefing by the IP Law Blog: Trouble in House of Gucci – Does the Family Have a Claim Following Release of New Film?