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
Licensing Law
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
Brands Cut Ties With Vlog Squad’s David Dobrik Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief At least 10 companies have dropped all ties with popular YouTube star David Dobrik and his troupe of video pranksters the 'Vlog Squad' after a Business Insider report chronicled allegations of sexual misconduct. Dobrik is a comedian who pranks the unwary in Los Angeles with his Vlog Squad, and garnered millions of Youtube views. He put the … [Read more...] about Brands Cut Ties With Vlog Squad’s David Dobrik Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Spotify Removes K-Pop Songs in Licensing Debacle
If you're a big K-pop fan with a Spotify account, you're probably not too happy today. Thanks to a breakdown in licensing talks, songs from some of the world's biggest K-pop stars have vanished from Spotify's music library after talks between the streamer and Korean distributor Kakao M hit a brick wall. Some of the acts affected include many of Korea's most popular acts, … [Read more...] about Spotify Removes K-Pop Songs in Licensing Debacle
Google Gives Ground in War Over Who Pays For News
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief US tech giant Google has announced a new policy to pay for some licensed news content in the UK, after coming under intense fire in Europe and Australia for allegedly profiting from news content without compensating the news organizations that produce that content. Google is now faced with new legislation that could force it to pay massive … [Read more...] about Google Gives Ground in War Over Who Pays For News
Under Armour Ending Licensing Deal With NFL
Sports clothing and equipment company Under Armour is preparing to end its licensing contract with the National Football League, according to a report in the Financial Times. Under Armour has not officially confirmed the contract termination, but the Financial Times reported this week the deal will end later this year. The company's licensing deal with the NFL allowed the brand … [Read more...] about Under Armour Ending Licensing Deal With NFL