Viacom/Comedy Central retreats from some legal rumblings on behalf of a show itself known for its clever use of video clips from other sources. [Levy, CL&P]
Posts Tagged ‘movies film and videos’
Netflix sued for making subscribers wait for hot releases
The movies-by-mail service cut a deal with Warner Bros. in which it agreed to make subscribers wait 28 days before sending out a new DVD release from the studio. A customer now claims it’s an agreement in restraint of trade. [NY Daily News]
Lawyer-unsafe short film of the year
Logorama is an Oscar-nominated 16-minute film with R-rated language and situations and as many as 2,500 possible intellectual property violations. [GarageTV, Belgian, via Nancy Friedman, who calls it “startling and hilarious”.]
Annals of celebrity paternity suits
At the request of lawyers for actor Keanu Reeves, an Ontario court dismissed a C$3 million suit filed by an unemployed homemaker claiming that Reeves was the father of her children. The defense pointed to negative DNA test results, Reeves’ strong denials that he ever met or had dealings with the woman, and divorce documents attributing the children’s paternity to the woman’s ex-husband. “Sala disputed the DNA results in court … suggesting they had been tampered with or that Reeves used hypnosis to affect the results.” [Herald Sun via Faces of Lawsuit Abuse monthly worst-lawsuit poll, PopCrunch]
Infamous terrorist Carlos the Jackal sues to protect his image
“[A]pparently determined to control his image even from his Paris prison cell, he has brought suit against a French production company shooting a documentary film on his life and legend, demanding a say on the final cut.” [Edward Cody, Washington Post].
While we’re at it: “Mirandizing the Christmas Day Bomber — Why?” [Paul Cassell, Volokh on this Bill Otis post, versus many critical commenters]
December 16 roundup
- Depiction of violence? School said to require psychiatric evaluation of eight year old over drawing of crucifix [Taunton, Mass. Daily Gazette] Update: More complicated than that? School officials call report inaccurate [Boston Globe, Michael Graham]
- “US games company sues British blogger” [Evony, in Australia, Guardian; our earlier coverage here and here]
- Blawg Review #242, on a Chanukah theme, is by Ron Coleman at Likelihood of Confusion;
- Repetitive head injury: “Assumption of risk and football” [Magliocca, ConcurOp]
- If you like CPSIA you may love proposed new chemical regulation law, TSCA [Deputy Headmistress]
- If we had to adopt the Precautionary Principle consistently, well, odds are we wouldn’t [Somin/Volokh]
- “Sex Offender Law Nabs Man Shooting Hoops in His Driveway” [Radley Balko, The Agitator]
- Funny: “How Not To Go From Banking To Law School” [Helen Coster, McSweeney’s via John Carney]
December 7 roundup
- Woman jailed for “camcordering” after recording four minutes of sister’s birthday party in movie theater [BoingBoing]
- Senate hearing airs trial lawyer gripes against Iqbal [Jackson and earlier, PoL, Wajert, Beck & Herrmann (scroll)] Franken and other Senators sidestep substance, browbeat witness re: “study” terminology [Alison Frankel, AmLaw]
- Still time to cancel? “2009 is also the first year of global governance” — new EU president [Small Dead Animals]
- Miller-Jenkins battle: judge orders custody switch to law-abiding spouse [Box Turtle Bulletin, background]
- Speedy by government standards? 17 years ago DoT proposed Southeast high-speed rail on existing rights of way, ruling on environmental impact statement is expected next year [McArdle]
- “New York’s New DWI Bill: Compounding Stupidity” [Greenfield; felony to drive intoxicated with passenger 15 or younger]
- “Apple Told To Pay Patent Troll OPTi $21.7 Million” [Business Insider]
- This year’s ABA Blawg 100 listing left out some legal blogs that aren’t half bad [Turkewitz]
“Subpoenas Target Rocker, Actress as Experts on Alienation”
An already odd binge of litigation has gotten yet odder: the California man who has sued Sony for kicking him off its PlayStation online network, and has sued Nintendo and Microsoft on other grounds, is now suing Activision Blizzard, publisher of the immensely popular online game World of Warcraft, which he accuses of maintaining a “harmful virtual environment” with “sneaky and deceitful practices.” He alleges that use of the game tends to bring on mental health problems, and — the best bit — says he intends to subpoena lyricist Martin Gore of the band Depeche Mode and Hollywood actress Winona Ryder as third party experts on alienation. [GameSpot via Ambrogi/Legal Blog Watch; earlier] Update: Estavillo is subpoenaing Bill Gates too [Seattle PI Microsoft blog]
Coshocton pulls WiFi
An Ohio town discontinues its municipal WiFi network after MPAA lawyers rattle swords about a copyrighted movie that moved through the system. Andrew Moshirnia at Citizen Media Law explains. And (h/t reader CTrees) note that the town turned the system back on at Sony’s request, following a national outcry over the incident.
And at least somewhat relatedly: “Viacom’s top lawyer: suing P2P users ‘felt like terrorism'” [ArsTechnica]
Trademark claims to silence critics?
Boston software maker Jenzabar has already sued the makers of a Tienanmen Square documentary on defamation theories, which a court dismissed. But it’s kept the litigation going on trademark infringement theories. [Paul Levy, Consumer Law & Policy; Ron Coleman, Likelihood of Confusion; Boston Globe June report linked earlier]