9th Circ. Revives 'Beauty' FX Copyright Verdict Against Disney

By Lauren Berg

The Ninth Circuit on Thursday revived a verdict that Walt Disney Pictures vicariously infringed a digital effects company's facial-motion capture software by using it for the 2017 "Beauty and the Beast" film, saying the tech company presented sufficient evidence for jurors to find Disney could have stopped its effects contractor's infringement.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Google's 'Failure To Communicate' In AI Fight Irks IP Judge

By Dorothy Atkins

A California magistrate judge presiding over discovery in a proposed class action alleging Google's artificial-intelligence training models infringed artists' copyrights on Thursday refused, for now, to appoint a special master after plaintiffs accused Google of delaying data production by months, but she expressed frustrations with Google counsel's "failure to communicate."

Motion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Tesla, Musk And WB Slice Off 'Blade Runner' IP Claims

By Craig Clough

A California federal judge tossed several claims Thursday from Alcon Entertainment's lawsuit alleging Tesla, its CEO Elon Musk and Warner Bros. Discovery used an image that infringes "Blade Runner 2049," while chastising the plaintiff for a 96-page complaint he said showcases a "proclivity towards overdoing things."

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Girardi's Atty, Judge Debate If His Conviction Is 'Debatable'

By Craig Clough

A California federal judge pushed back Thursday on arguments by Tom Girardi's lawyer that he should be free on bond while he appeals his wire fraud conviction, saying that debating the case doesn't automatically mean it raises "fairly debatable" questions sufficient to meet the Ninth Circuit's standard for remaining free on appeal.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Lin Wood Can't Shake Trial Win For Ex-Partners

By Jake Maher

Former attorney L. Lin Wood lost his bid to undo an approximately-$10 million award that he owes his ex-law partners relating to the breakup of their firm, with a Georgia state judge this week refusing to set aside a jury verdict in the case.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Fla. Doc Can Pursue Defamation Claims Against CNN, Cooper

By Mike Curley

A Florida appeals court has reversed an order throwing out a pediatric doctor's suit against CNN, Anderson Cooper and reporters for the network, saying a jury should decide whether they defamed him through the use of unadjusted mortality rates at his hospital.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Influencer Vows To Revive Malpractice Case Against Akin

By Lynn LaRowe

A social media influencer is planning to bring a malpractice suit in Texas state court against Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP after a federal judge found a lack of jurisdiction over claims that the firm mishandled a dispute over payment for participation in an amateur boxing competition.

Memorandum attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Roblox, Discord Again Accused Of Ignoring Teen Exploitation

By Emily Field

The mother of a 14-year-old girl allegedly groomed by a predator on Roblox and Discord recently joined the slew of parents suing the online platforms for failing to safeguard children from being sexually exploited, saying in a suit filed in California federal court that she wrongly believed Roblox in particular was safe for children.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Ga. Law Bars Broad Media Access To Executions, Court Told

By Chart Riggall

Georgia officials Thursday told a state appellate court it should reject a nonprofit news organization's bid to force greater media access to executions, arguing the outlet is trying to rely on the type of third-party standing that was scrapped earlier this year by the state's Supreme Court.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Connecticut AG Enters Fray Over WNBA's Sun Franchise

By David Steele

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong on Thursday joined state and federal elected officials in turning up the heat on the WNBA over the on-again, off-again sale of the Connecticut Sun franchise, asking for league documents and information about purchase offers and for a meeting with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and other league executives.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

RSS Co-Creator Unveils License Plan For AI Content Crawlers

By Ivan Moreno

The co-creator of RSS feeds has helped launch a licensing process for AI crawlers that scrape website content to train artificial intelligence systems.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Brief

IYO Loses Sanctions Bid In OpenAI Trademark Case

By Elliot Weld

Technology firm IYO Inc. was denied a request to sanction OpenAI by a California federal judge who said IYO had not convincingly backed up its claim that OpenAI reposted materials touting products under the "IO" brand in violation of a court order.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

FTC Presses OpenAI, Meta On AI Chatbots' Impact On Kids

By Allison Grande

The Federal Trade Commission is seeking information from Meta, OpenAI, Google and four others about the steps they're taking to measure and monitor the potentially negative impacts that AI-powered chatbots that are designed to act as companions are having on children and teens, the agency revealed Thursday. 

3 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Audible Credit Suit Raises Question On Wash. Gift Card Law

By Rachel Riley

A federal judge in Seattle has floated asking Washington's high court to clarify the scope of the Evergreen State's gift card law, suggesting on Thursday that a consumer suit over expiring Audible credits hinges on whether the statute only covers instruments with monetary value.  

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Disney Flouts Privacy Law By Exploiting User Data, Suit Says

By Gina Kim

The Walt Disney Co. is flouting privacy laws by illegally gathering and sharing with Google personal information of individuals who visit its website for data monetization and advertising purposes, without their knowledge or consent, according to a proposed class action filed in California federal court.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Users Accuse Encyclopaedia Britannica Of Privacy Invasion

By Joyce Hanson

Encyclopaedia Britannica website users have sued the digital reference platform in federal court on claims that it violates the California Invasion of Privacy Act by closely tracking their online activity and selling that information to third parties, including Facebook.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Google, Apple Fight Proposed UK App Ranking, Pay Mandates

By Bryan Koenig

Apple and Google both pushed back on proposals by United Kingdom antitrust authorities to stop the companies from boosting their own apps and using commission-based payment systems but took slightly different approaches, according to separate responses made public Thursday.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

NY Judge Lets Baosheng IPO Suit Proceed But Drops Auditors

By Katryna Perera

A New York federal judge has ruled that investors can move forward with claims that Baosheng Media misled them by failing to disclose an investigation by Chinese authorities ahead of its initial public offering, but found they'd failed to state a claim against the auditor defendants in the suit.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

SEC Fights Musk's Bid To Send Twitter Case To Texas

By Jessica Corso

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is challenging Elon Musk's attempt to have a lawsuit over his purchase of Twitter shares moved to Texas, arguing Thursday that there was "no question" that the case belonged in Washington, D.C.

Response attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

SEC Sues Podcast Host, Others Over $82M In Securities Sales

By Emilie Ruscoe

A trio of allegedly unregistered securities brokers, including a podcaster, are facing a suit from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, alleging they sold unregistered oil and gas securities at the behest of sponsors of the associated unregistered offerings, raising a combined $82 million in exchange for transaction-based compensation.

3 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

'Delete Delete Delete': FCC To Slash Hundreds Of Old Rules

By Nadia Dreid

The Federal Communications Commission plans to get rid of nearly 400 rules that it says are obsolete, some of which hail from the "Ma Bell" era, and the agency has said it won't seek input on its updated guidance unless pressed to do so.

1 document attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

FCC Focuses On 'Friendly' Space Regulatory Environment

By Christopher Cole

Federal Communications Commission leaders said this week one of their top goals is to make the U.S. the world's most hospitable regulatory turf for commercial space activity as "Space Race 2.0" accelerates with China.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

T-Mobile Settles With FCC Over Unapproved Phone Rollout

By Christopher Cole

T-Mobile has reached an agreement with the Federal Communications Commission to resolve allegations that it began marketing a new cellphone model before getting a green light in the FCC's equipment testing process.

1 document attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Cable Cos. Call For Faster Access To Investor-Owned Poles

By Nadia Dreid

High-speed internet service is being deployed to Americans in a "reasonable and timely" fashion, but if the Federal Communications Commission wanted to speed things up a little, a trade group says it could always make it easier to access investor-owned utility poles.

Comments attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Brief

FCC Warns Cable, Prime Customers Of Scam Offering 50% Off

By Nadia Dreid

Comcast and Amazon won't offer customers discounts on their subscription if they pay in gift cards, the Federal Communications Commission is warning after noticing the proliferation of a new scam claiming that a "50% discount on your monthly bill is set to expire."

1 document attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

6th Circ. Says Papa John's Founder's Ex-PR Can't Arbitrate

By Rae Ann Varona

The Sixth Circuit ruled Wednesday that a marketing agency Papa John's founder and former CEO accused of leaking comments that led to his resignation from the pizza company's board cannot ship his lawsuit to arbitration, saying in a published opinion that the agency had defaulted on its arbitration rights.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

2nd Circ. Says Kik Scans Don't Violate Fourth Amendment

By Parker Quinlan

Messaging applications like Kik are allowed to search users' conversations as part of due diligence into suspected cases of child sexual abuse material without violating users' Fourth Amendment rights, the Second Circuit has found.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Series

Being A Professional Wrestler Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Pursuing my childhood dream of being a professional wrestler has taught me important legal career lessons about communication, adaptability, oral advocacy and professionalism, says Christopher Freiberg at Midwest Disability.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Analysis

When The Supreme Court Says Using Race Is OK

By Marco Poggio

The U.S. Supreme Court is allowing government agencies to expressly use race in furthering their immigration enforcement goals, while prohibiting the use of race as even one of the factors to consider in college admissions. Some legal scholars see a double standard.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Quinn Emanuel's $30M Fee Bid Flouts Ch. 11, Co. Says

By Julie Manganis

Israeli printed circuit maker Nano Dimension has told a Massachusetts federal judge that Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP can't claim a $30 million attorney's lien to make an "end run" around the bankruptcy of 3D printing company Desktop Metal, a former client that Nano acquired.

Memorandum attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Hagens Berman Doubles Down On AI-Tainted Brief Correction

By Adrian Cruz

Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP said that the firm has an ethical duty to correct briefs tainted by artificial intelligence errors and that the corrected versions shouldn't be stricken from a proposed class action against online platform OnlyFans' parent company.

Brief attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Calif. Bill Blocking Fee Sharing With ABS Firms Heads To Gov.

By Emily Sawicki

A bill heading to California Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk is poised to tighten rules to restrict alternative business structure law firms from operating in the Golden State by blocking lawyers from sharing fees with out-of-state firms owned by non-lawyers.

Bill attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Analysis

Appeals Courts Rethink Harsh Youth Sentences, Search Rules

By Brandon Lowrey

State appellate courts across the country have issued major criminal law opinions this year, softening some of the harshest sentences for young defendants while shifting rules for searches and evidence collection.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

NYC Eviction Counsel Program Struggles To Meet Its Goals

By Andrea Keckley

More than half the households eligible for New York City's Right to Counsel program are not receiving legal representation in eviction cases, with representation rates peaking at just over half the qualified tenants in 2022 before falling to roughly one-third of citywide tenants in 2024, according to a report.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Analysis

New Guidance Hacks Away At Immigration Judges' Powers

By Britain Eakin

A steady stream of Board of Immigration Appeals decisions and Executive Office for Immigration Review memos, capped by recent guidance on handling constitutional claims, shows a Trump administration reining in immigration judges overseeing removal cases.

1 document attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Analysis

Mich. AG's Loss Spells Trouble For Other Fake Elector Cases

By Carolyn Muyskens

The dismissal of charges against Michigan Republicans who participated in the so-called fake elector plot after the 2020 presidential election shows that establishing intent could be a hurdle for prosecutors as they pursue similar cases in other states, legal experts said.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

'Tyrant' Indiana Judge Ousted Over Misconduct

By Lynn LaRowe

An Indiana superior court judge who "wielded his position of power like a tyrant" during his three years on the bench has been permanently barred from judicial service by the state's Supreme Court.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Analysis

Fresh Angles On Display In ERISA Summer Filing Uptick

By Kellie Mejdrich

Attorneys dealing with a rise in Employee Retirement Income Security Act cases are paying close attention to a handful of recent suits with allegations that put a twist on traditional benefits disputes. Here, Law360 looks at three cases with fresh angles that lawyers are keeping an eye on.

3 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Roundup

UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

By Laura Stewart Liberty

This past week in London has seen former Master Chef presenter Gregg Wallace sue the BBC, Elon Musk's xAI take legal action against a staff engineer, and fashion mogul Kevin-Gerald Stanford file a fresh claim against Lion Capital-owned Klotho and EY amid a long-running All Saints share acquisition dispute.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

GC Cheat Sheet: The Hottest Corporate News Of The Week

By Sue Reisinger

The federal government has accused Uber Technologies Inc. of discriminating against riders with disabilities, including individuals traveling with service animals or using stowable wheelchairs. Meanwhile, a new Law360 analysis shows that male lawyers still hold nearly three times as many equity partner roles as women do.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Law360's Legal Lions Of The Week

By Kevin Penton

Kaplan Martin LLP leads this week's edition of Law360 Legal Lions, after the Second Circuit upheld an $83.3 million award against President Donald Trump for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll in 2019 in the wake of her sexual assault allegations, rejecting his claims of presidential immunity.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

In Case You Missed It: Hottest Firms And Stories On Law360

For those who missed out, here's a look back at the law firms, stories and expert analyses that generated the most buzz on Law360 last week.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »