Legal - CMU | the music business explained

Court declines to dismiss sex assault lawsuit against Garth Brooks, after accuser accused the country star of “forum shopping”

public

Garth Brooks • 2 min read

Court declines to dismiss sex assault lawsuit against Garth Brooks, after accuser accused the country star of “forum shopping”

A Californian court has declined to dismiss a sexual assault lawsuit filed against Garth Brooks. He has also sued his accuser through the courts in Mississippi and says she should make her allegations in a counterclaim to that lawsuit. She argued that that amounted to unfair “forum shopping”…

Chris Cooke • 13 Dec 2024

Donald Trump settles Eddy Grant copyright lawsuit after fair use defence fails

public

Eddy Grant • 2 min read

Donald Trump settles Eddy Grant copyright lawsuit after fair use defence fails

In September a US court said that Donald Trump’s unapproved use of Eddy Grant’s ‘Electric Avenue’ in a 2020 campaign video was not fair use, meaning it infringed copyright. Trump has now settled Grant’s lawsuit, meaning that ruling won’t be challenged on appeal…

Chris Cooke • 22 Nov 2024

Madlib sues business manager over allegations of “rank self-dealing”

public

Madlib • 2 min read

Madlib sues business manager over allegations of “rank self-dealing”

Madlib has sued his business manager Egon over allegations he mismanaged two companies they set up together to control the producer’s recordings and merchandise business. It’s claimed that, since they fell out, Egon is now holding Madlib’s IP and social media hostage…

Chris Cooke • 04 Nov 2024

Nirvana baby lawsuit takes new turn as RIAA files amicus brief saying litigation could have chilling effects

public

Nirvana • 2 min read

Nirvana baby lawsuit takes new turn as RIAA files amicus brief saying litigation could have chilling effects

The man who, as a baby, appeared on the cover of Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ is suing the band and their label claiming that the artwork breached US laws against child pornography. RIAA has come out in support of the band, saying a ruling against them would have a “chilling” effect on artistic expression…

Chris Cooke • 01 Nov 2024

Shock development sees Young Thug walk free after chaotic 22 month-long trial

public

Young Thug • 3 min read

Shock development sees Young Thug walk free after chaotic 22 month-long trial

Having been incarcerated ever since his arrest in May 2022, Young Thug was yesterday freed from jail after pleading guilty to gang related charges. It brought to a sudden end a long-running and chaotic trial that also caused controversy because of prosecutors using the rapper’s lyrics against him…

Chris Cooke • 01 Nov 2024

Lil Durk charged over alleged murder-for-hire revenge plot

public

Lil Durk • 2 min read

Lil Durk charged over alleged murder-for-hire revenge plot

Lil Durk could face a life sentence after being charged over allegations he paid for the attempted murder of rival rapper Quando Rondo. It’s claimed associates of Durk and his collective OTF travelled to LA with the intent of murdering Rondo in retaliation for the killing of OTF rapper King Von…

Chris Cooke • 28 Oct 2024

Op-ed: Dorothea Thompson of Bray & Krais on the Morrissey + Marr trademark tensions

public

Op-Eds • 3 min read

Op-ed: Dorothea Thompson of Bray & Krais on the Morrissey + Marr trademark tensions

After Morrissey and Johnny Marr had a public set-to about the trademark THE SMITHS, Dorothea Thompson takes a look at the ins and outs of trademark registration and how to sort things out…

CMU Contributors • 23 Oct 2024

Diddy wants gagging order to stop media “carnival” of accusations as his lawyers say constitutional right to fair trial is at risk

public

Diddy • 3 min read

Diddy wants gagging order to stop media “carnival” of accusations as his lawyers say constitutional right to fair trial is at risk

Everyone and their dog has an opinion about the Diddy lawsuits, and that could stop him getting a fair trial. That’s what lawyers repping the rap mogul say, and they’re calling for a gagging order to shut up everyone involved in the lawsuits, to stop the “shockingly prejudicial” media coverage…

Chris Cooke • 22 Oct 2024

Astroworld bellwether cases pushed to next year as more than 300 injury lawsuits settled

public

Astroworld • 2 min read

Astroworld bellwether cases pushed to next year as more than 300 injury lawsuits settled

A whole raft of Astroworld injury lawsuits have been settled days before three ‘bellwether’ cases - which could influence the others - were due to start in court. Everything has been pushed back to February 2025 - though not Michael Rapino’s deposition, which the live giant was desperate to avoid…

Chris Cooke • 22 Oct 2024

Diddy lawyers seek to identify his accusers, as yet another sexual assault lawsuit is filed

public

Diddy • 3 min read

Diddy lawyers seek to identify his accusers, as yet another sexual assault lawsuit is filed

Lawyers working for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs have written to a New York court seeking to identify the people who have accused the musician of sexual assault as part of the criminal case against him. Meanwhile, yet another lawsuit has been filed accusing Combs of violent sexual assault…

Chris Cooke • 16 Oct 2024

Rapino must give deposition in Astroworld lawsuit says Texas court

public

Live Nation • 3 min read

Rapino must give deposition in Astroworld lawsuit says Texas court

While wrongful death lawsuits over the Astroworld tragedy were all settled, hundreds of injured festival-goers also sued. They want Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino to sit for a deposition. He has been trying hard to stop that from happening, but the Texas Supreme Court has said it should go ahead…

Chris Cooke • 16 Oct 2024

Diddy lawsuit floodgates begin to open: as six more lawsuits are filed, is this the trickle before the torrent?

public

Diddy • 3 min read

Diddy lawsuit floodgates begin to open: as six more lawsuits are filed, is this the trickle before the torrent?

Texas-based lawyer Tony Buzbee, who says he is representing at least 120 people who were allegedly sexually assaulted by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, has filed lawsuits on behalf of six of his clients. Four men and two women say they were sexually assaulted by Combs between the 1990s and 2021…

Chris Cooke • 15 Oct 2024