Fort Lauderdale Sports, IP & Entertainment Law Attorneys | Heitner Legal
For those in fear of violating Title 17 of the United States Code the next time they attend a friend’s birthday party, you are now in luck. This past Tuesday, United States District Judge George H. King ruled that Warner Music Group’s (“Warner/Chappell”) claim of copyright in the song “Happy Birthday” was legally ineffective, therefore […]
Golf is a great sport. I’ve been promising myself that I’m going to get around to really learning how to play. And the excitement from this weekend may have given me the final nudge I need. As I did my routine check of the sports blogs I learned that there was a big brouhaha at […]
Who’s excited about football being back in full swing? Me. As I watched with excitement during week 1 my eyes were particularly fixed on FedExField and the Washington Redskins. I’m a fan. I’ve been one since I can remember and, no matter how many times they let me down, I’ll probably be one until the […]
Adidas has been at the center of several intellectual property claims the past few years involving its famous three-stripe pattern allegedly being imitated by competing shoe companies. This time, the shoe giant isn’t just alleging that its logo was copied, but rather, an entire shoe design. Earlier this week, Adidas filed a complaint in the […]
It was recently announced that Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey will be reviewing the legality behind DraftKings – the Boston, Massachusetts based daily fantasy sports operator known as one of the leaders behind the ever-evolving daily fantasy sports industry. This review comes on the heels of United States Representative Frank Pallone requesting a committee hearing […]
Roughly two months after United States District Judge Claudia Wilken approved a $60 million settlement that would compensate past collegiate players for the NCAA’s use of their name, image, and likeness in video games manufactured by Electronic Arts (EA Sports) from the years 2003 to 2014 – a decision currently being appealed by the NCAA […]
With the continued growth of athletes and celebrities as role models in addition to the continued importance of intellectual property in their lives, it raises the question of whether they can trademark their names. “Under §2(e)(f) of the Trademark Act, a mark that is primarily a surname [family name] is not registrable on the Principal […]
As expected, this past week the state of New Jersey – along with the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association – formally filed its request for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear arguments in the recently decided sports betting case. This Gaming Law issue comes on the heels of the state’s 2-1 defeat in […]
In November 2014, Bwin.party announced it was in talks with several parties, which could result in an offer for the online gaming company. On September 4, 2015, Bwin agreed to a buyout offer from GVC Holdings for $1.7 billion. However, Bwin’s acceptance of GVC’s offer is subject to scrutiny as it withdrew an accepted an offer […]
Last week Patriots fans rejoiced as a federal judge ruled in favor of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and erased his four-game suspension. It was another blow to the top brass of the National Football League (NFL or League) who have been in hot water for their seemingly less than capable management of player infractions. This […]
This past week, it was reported that Italian soccer player, Mario Balotelli, had his drivers’ license immediately confiscated for going 25 miles over the speed limit in a residential area near his home in Brescia, Italy. While being caught driving over the speed limit may not be cause for extreme concern for some individuals, who […]
The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has ruled that cheerleader uniforms are eligible for federal copyright protection. Varsity Brands, Inc., Varsity Spirit Corporation, Varsity Spirit Fashions & Supplies, Inc. sued Star Athletica, LLC alleging five counts of copyright infringement in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee […]