By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The Hollywood actor Zachary Horwitz—better known by his stage name Zach Avery—faces decades behind bars after admitting his role in a $650 million Ponzi scheme. Horwitz was charged in May this year on allegations he defrauded multiple high worth investors in what has been described by authorities as a phony licensing scheme. This week, as … [Read more...] about Actor Zach Avery Pleads Guilty To $650 Million Licensing Fraud
Licensing Law
ESPN In Talks For $3 Billion Sports Betting Deal
The Disney-owned sports broadcaster ESPN is looking at licensing its brand to major sports betting companies, with a price tag of at least $3 billion. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, ESPN has already held talks with operators like the online gambling company DraftKings and casino operator Caesars Entertainment, among others. ESPN already has marketing … [Read more...] about ESPN In Talks For $3 Billion Sports Betting Deal
Legal Action Threatened Over Pic of Naked Man Chasing Pig
A German actor whose photograph of a naked man pursuing a wild boar went viral has said she might take legal action against a company that duplicated the scene for model railway enthusiasts. While hilarious, the incident raises questions about when and how companies can use images without copyright permission or a licensing agreement. Adele Landauer, an actor and charisma … [Read more...] about Legal Action Threatened Over Pic of Naked Man Chasing Pig
AC/DC Launches Beer, Sex Pistols In Licensing Battle
There's Anarchy in the UK, as The Sex Pistols' guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook are suing former band frontman John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) over the use of their songs in the upcoming Danny Boyle biography series Pistol. The series, slated for streaming broadcast on Disney+, is based on Jones' 2016 memoir Lonely Boy, but Lydon says the book and the series paint him … [Read more...] about AC/DC Launches Beer, Sex Pistols In Licensing Battle
Not So Nice: Baron Cohen Sues Pot Shop
Actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has filed suit against a Massachusetts cannabis shop for using an image of his character Borat on a billboard (pictured here) without his permission. According to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Boston, Baron Cohen alleges the billboard for Somerset-based Solar Therapeutics Inc. showed him posing as Borat with two thumbs up and … [Read more...] about Not So Nice: Baron Cohen Sues Pot Shop
Universal Music Announces Licensing Truce With Triller
The months-long licensing dispute between Universal Music Group and the social video site Triller appears to be over, as UMG announced it has signed a worldwide agreement for its music catalog. Triller is a social media video app, similar to TikTok, in which users can combine video and licensed music to produce their own videos. Triller is different in the sense videos are … [Read more...] about Universal Music Announces Licensing Truce With Triller
Google Inks 30 News Licensing Deals in India
Google has continued its global program to license news and current affairs content, as part of a campaign to assure lawmakers that it is not threatening the viability of the global news media. As part of that campaign, the global search and content giant has inked agreements with 30 domestic publishers in India, bringing the total number of content deals to roughly 700 … [Read more...] about Google Inks 30 News Licensing Deals in India
India’s Tips Industries Licenses Music For YouTube
As the short video wars heat up between TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels, music labels are enjoying new value for licensing their IP. Now, India's Tips Industries has signed a lucrative deal with Google, allowing users of its YouTube Shorts service to use any music owned by the label. "As part of this deal, Tips will license its large catalogue to YouTube platform … [Read more...] about India’s Tips Industries Licenses Music For YouTube
Writers Form #DisneyMustPay Task Force In Royalty Dispute
Disney has been getting back into the publishing business in a big way in recent years, but the acquisition of several publishing houses has also brought some headaches in the form of writers who say they are owed unpaid royalties. Half a dozen writers' organizations have joined the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) in forming the task force, which is … [Read more...] about Writers Form #DisneyMustPay Task Force In Royalty Dispute
Topps Releases the Monster of All NFTs
Collectibles Leader Topps Digital Issuing Godzilla NFT Collectibles on March 31 If you've been reading a lot about NFTs and were wondering when it would hit the world of licensing ... it already has, as collectibles firm Topps Digital continues to introduce exciting new products on the WAX Blockchain. Tomorrow, on March 31, Topps will conintue to build on its reputation as … [Read more...] about Topps Releases the Monster of All NFTs