North America: Media, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment

From digital sampling battles to AI-generated music, copyright law has consistently arrived late to technological disruption in the music industry. This examination traces landmark litigation across sampling, streaming, and artificial intelligence, revealing how rights holders have repeatedly shaped legal frameworks through strategic action rather than waiting for legislative solutions.

Taylor Swift faces a trademark dispute over her album title "The Life of a Showgirl" with performer Maren Flagg, who holds a 12-year registration for "Confessions of a Showgirl." The case centers on reverse confusion claims and whether Swift's global fame could overwhelm Flagg's earlier trademark rights, raising questions about brand dilution and the commercial impact of similar marks in the entertainment industry.

When Taylor Swift released her album 'The Life of a Showgirl,' she faced a trademark infringement lawsuit from Maren Flagg, who claimed the title violated her registered trademark CONFESSIONS OF A SHOWGIRL. The case explores the critical boundary between artistic expression and commercial trademark use, particularly when musical artists transform album releases into merchandise-driven business ventures.

The Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance (“HWPO”), passed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, became operative April 1, 2026 and its housekeeping training requirements take effect on October 1, 2026.

The Third Circuit (Cornish-Adebiyi v. Caesars Entertainment, Inc.) has now joined the Ninth Circuit (Gibson v. Cendyn Group, LLC) in evaluating dismissal of claims by casino hotel guests...

The Third Circuit's reversal in Cornish-Adebiyi v. Caesars Entertainment marks a pivotal moment in antitrust law, becoming the first federal appellate court to allow algorithmic price-fixing claims to proceed past dismissal. How does this decision differ from the Ninth Circuit's ruling in Gibson v. Cendyn Group, and what specific allegations about AI-enabled pricing tools proved decisive in establishing a plausible horizontal agreement among Atlantic City casino-hotels?

As entertainment lawyers, we are often asked a deceptively simple question by creatives, producers, and studios: “Can we use this trademark in our project?”

A federal appeals court has ruled that FCC Bureau-level decisions can be judicially reviewed even without full Commission action, while simultaneously striking down guidance that would have expanded mandatory discounted advertising rates beyond candidates to include joint fundraising committees and political party coordinated expenditures. The decision challenges the FCC's increasing practice of delegating substantive policy decisions to its Bureaus while shielding those decisions from immediate judicial sc

SHOOTonline, a publication that served the commercial production industry for over six decades, has announced its closure. The site was an important source of legal and industry information for advertisers, agencies, and production companies throughout its long history.

The FCC's Media Bureau has opened a public comment period on a challenge to its guidance regarding lowest unit charge requirements for political advertising, reigniting a contentious debate that has already seen intervention from both the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Democratic congressional candidates are contesting the Bureau's interpretation of LUC rules for joint fundraising committees and coordinated advertisements, with comments due by late September 2026.

A periodic digest of the headlines, statutory and regulatory changes and court cases involving campaign finance, lobbying compliance, election law and government ethics issues at the federal, state and local level.

On July 22, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopted a Third Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (covered separately here) in which the Commission advances its ongoing efforts to secure the U.S.