Fort Lauderdale Sports, IP & Entertainment Law Attorneys | Heitner Legal
Florida athletes, musicians, influencers, esports creators, and businesses now have powerful new tools to fight back against AI systems that steal their identity. Governor Ron DeSantis’ AI Bill of Rights (SB 482) sailed through the Florida Senate in early March 2026 with a 35-2 vote. Though still moving through the House at the time of […]
The NIL era didn’t just change how college and Olympic athletes earn money. It changed what they are. Overnight, athletes became brands. Their name, image, and likeness transformed from personal identity into intellectual property with real commercial value. And where there’s value, there’s risk. As NIL opportunities have expanded well beyond simple sponsorships into licensing […]
Florida athletes, entertainers, influencers, and businesses face growing risks from artificial intelligence tools that can create realistic but fake sexual images without consent. In 2025, the Florida Legislature strengthened safeguards with updates to Florida Statute § 836.13, known as the Altered Sexual Depictions law. This law directly addresses AI “deepfakes” and “nudify” tools that misuse […]
Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C. is pleased to announce a significant victory for our client, Christian Moss, a talented wide receiver who most recently played for the Kennesaw State University football team. The National Collegiate Athletic Association has granted Mr. Moss an extension of his eligibility, allowing him to compete in an additional season during the 2026-27 […]
In a significant victory for college athlete rights, the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida granted a temporary injunction against the NCAA, allowing Bethune-Cookman University basketball player Doctor Bradley to compete for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. The ruling, issued by Judge Dennis Craig, provides a scathing critique of the NCAA’s governance structure and […]
At Heitner Legal, we are committed to advocating for athletes who face unforeseen challenges that impact their collegiate careers. We are pleased to announce the successful securing of a medical hardship waiver for Gage Hensey, a talented men’s track and field athlete at the University of Oklahoma. This waiver restores an additional year of eligibility […]
Heitner Legal is proud to announce a decisive victory on behalf of our client, Mac Jones, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. On December 2, 2025, the U.S. Copyright Claims Board dismissed with prejudice all claims brought against Jones by psychologist Keith Bell, finding that Jones’s use of Bell’s copyrighted material constituted fair use under […]
At Heitner Legal, we are proud to announce a significant victory for our client, Caleb Van De Griend, a talented men’s basketball player at Idaho State University. On November 4, 2025, the District Court of Bannock County, Idaho, granted an ex parte temporary restraining order in our favor, enjoining the National Collegiate Athletic Association from […]
We’re thrilled to announce that Heitner Legal has successfully secured the federal trademark registration for ANGEL REESE (Reg. No. 8,004,000) for Chicago Sky star Angel Reese. Registered on October 28, 2025, for use in International Class 28 covering basketballs, this latest trademark victory represents another strategic move in building one of the WNBA’s most robust […]
The prediction market industry has experienced explosive growth in 2025, with platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi processing billions of dollars in trading volume and attracting unprecedented mainstream attention. As these markets mature from niche curiosities into significant financial platforms, they operate in an increasingly complex regulatory landscape that presents both opportunities and challenges for startups […]
This week, we’re excited to highlight four recently registered federal trademarks that exemplify how smart brand strategy protects growing businesses. Just registered on October 14, 2025, two companies have secured valuable intellectual property assets that position them for long-term success. Beau Monde Builders: A Tale of Two Marks Florida-based Beau Monde Builders, Inc. has secured […]
In a landmark decision that will reverberate throughout the entertainment industry, Judge Jeannette A. Vargas of the Southern District of New York dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit against UMG Recordings over Kendrick Lamar’s explosive diss track “Not Like Us.” The October 9, 2025 ruling provides critical guidance for artists, entertainers, and public figures navigating the intersection […]