Disney, ABC and John Ridley Sued For Discrimination By Former Development Executive
Disney has been hit with a new lawsuit from a development executive over allegations that she was underpaid because she’s an Asian American woman. Asta Jonasson, in a lawsuit filed on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims she was discriminated against by director John Ridley, whose production house has an overall deal with Disney […]
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George Carlin’s Estate Settles Lawsuit Against Podcasters Over AI Special
A settlement has been reached between the estate of George Carlin and the makers of a podcast who used generative artificial intelligence to impersonate the late stand-up comic’s voice and style for an unauthorized special. Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen, hosts of the podcast Dudesy, and George Carlin’s estate notified the court on Tuesday of […]
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Disney’s DEI Efforts Targeted by Trump Aide’s Legal Group Amid Proxy Fight
Disney’s efforts to boost diversity are under attack ahead of a key shareholder vote to elect its board that will shape the direction of the company. Stephen Miller’s America First Legal foundation, in a letter sent to Disney’s top brass March 27, claims that initiatives to boost diversity and inclusion violate civil rights laws and […]
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Michael Kassan Files $125M Defamation Lawsuit Against Bryan Freedman Over UTA Case
The feud between Michael Kassan and UTA over the MediaLink founder’s departure is intensifying, with Kassan suing the agency’s lawyer for defamation. Kassan, in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, accuses attorney Bryan Freedman of trying to tarnish his reputation at the direction of UTA in a bid to prevent employees […]
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How the Disney vs. DeSantis Battle Ended in a Stalemate
In the months leading up to the settlement between Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis, both sides were growing weary. At the top of the year, Disney lost a pivotal First Amendment lawsuit claiming that the Republican governor violated its free speech rights by assuming control of the special tax district that encompasses the entertainment giant’s […]
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Disney, Florida Settle Legal Claims as DeSantis-Iger Fight Over Special District Winds Down
Disney and allies of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have settled a legal battle for control of the district that oversees development around the company’s theme parks. The deal, reached on Wednesday, resolves litigation in state court accusing the entertainment giant of covertly cobbling together a “series of eleventh-hour deals” to illicitly retain development powers after […]
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Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Disney Over VFX Tech Used in ‘Avengers’ Movies
The Walt Disney company has fended off allegations in a case that’s a part of long-running litigation at the intersection of Hollywood and Silicon Valley over the use of allegedly stolen VFX technology to animate some of the company’s most iconic characters in its highest-grossing movies. A federal judge on Thursday dismissed copyright infringement claims […]
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Martin Scorsese Settles Lawsuit Over Claims He Reneged on Deal to Produce World War II Movie
Martin Scorsese and his production company, Sikelia Productions, have settled a lawsuit accusing them of reneging on a $1 million deal to executive produce a World War II movie. U.K.-based production company Op-Fortitude informed the court on Thursday of a deal to resolve the case. The settlement is contingent on the completion of certain terms […]
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As DOJ Takes on Apple, Netflix and Spotify Could Stand to Benefit
In September 2019, after years of moves signaling that it was getting serious about Hollywood ambitions, Apple unveiled its foray into entertainment through a subscription video service. A month later, it officially launched its own internal studio, which would feed exclusive content to Apple TV+. The service was offered at an industry-low $5 per month, […]
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Hermès Hit With Class Action Lawsuit Over Exclusivity of Birkin Bags
Hollywood’s favorite accessory is coming under fire, with French luxury house Hermès facing a lawsuit over barriers to purchase its coveted Birkin handbags. A proposed class action filed in California federal court on Tuesday alleges that Hermès violates antitrust laws by requiring consumers to have a “sufficient purchase history” of buying the company’s secondary products, […]
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TKO to Pay $335M to Settle Legal Bout Against UFC Fighters Ahead of Trial
A legal showdown between Ultimate Fighting Championship and more than 1,200 fighters suing for wage suppression has settled. TKO Group — born out of the marriage between UFC and WWE, with the aim of becoming a sports marketing powerhouse — will pay $335 million to resolve the class action from fighters, according to a Wednesday […]
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Hollywood Office Tower ‘The Star’ On Sunset Unveils $1B Makeover Plan
A proposed $1 billion high-rise on Sunset Boulevard in the heart of Hollywood called the Star is getting a major makeover. The real estate development firm handling the project has submitted revisions for the 22-story office tower that will now be punctuated by a spiraling design offering 360-degree views of downtown Los Angeles, the Hollywood […]
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