United States: Media & Entertainment Law

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Entertainment law, media law and telecoms law thought leadership, articles, podcasts, videos and webinars from expert sources across the legal world. Explore insights covering topics such as advertising, marketing and branding, broadcasting, gaming, hotels and hospitality, publishing, and mobile and cable communications.
Article
Functionality Can Bar Registration Of A Single-Color Trademark
The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board recently affirmed that a specific shade of bright green (Pantone 2297C) cannot be registered as a trademark for construction tripod legs due to functionality concerns. The decision highlights the complex interplay between color marks, safety features, and competitive disadvantage in trademark law, examining how high-visibility colors serve essential purposes beyond source identification.
United States IP
CL
Cowan Liebowitz & Latman PC
Article
FCC Seeks Comment On Application For Review Of Lowest Unit Charge Public Notice
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.
United States Media & IT
WR
Wiley Rein
Article
Supreme Court Stays Fourth Circuit Mandate And Reinstates FCC Guidance On Lowest Unit Charge
On September 4, 2026 – the first day of the lowest unit charge (LUC) window for the November general election – the U.S. Supreme Court granted an emergency stay of the Fourth Circuit’s order in Brown v. FCC, thereby reinstating the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) Media Bureau’s March 2026 Public Notice on LUC for political party ads.
United States Media & IT
WR
Wiley Rein
Article
Consolidation, Governance And Complexity: What MSG Sports Corp.’s Proposed Separation Reveals About Modern Sports Ownership
Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. has filed a confidential Form 10 registration statement with the SEC to separate its New York Knicks and New York Rangers franchises into two distinct publicly traded companies. The proposed spin-off aims to provide each organization with enhanced strategic and financial flexibility, a more defined business focus, and clearer investment characteristics.
United States Media & IT
AB
Aird & Berlis LLP
Article
New York’s Final Rules For Kids Set A New Benchmark For Age Assurance
New York's finalized rules for the Kids Online Safety Act establish comprehensive age assurance requirements that could reshape how digital platforms verify and protect young users. These regulations introduce specific technical standards and compliance obligations that extend beyond previous state-level attempts at child protection online. The framework may serve as a template for other jurisdictions considering similar protective measures for minors in digital spaces.
United States Privacy
ZwillGen PLLC
Article
When The Layoffs Come: What North Carolina Employers Need To Know About The WARN Act
When workforce reductions happen in multiple waves across related corporate entities, how does federal law treat them in the aggregate? The recent Ubisoft layoffs at Red Storm Entertainment in North Carolina illustrate critical compliance questions under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act that every employer must understand before implementing workforce changes.
United States Employment
Wa
Ward and Smith, P.A.
Article
Leaving Las Vegas: Third Circuit Breaks From Ninth Circuit Ruling On Algorithmic Pricing Claims
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?
United States Anti-trust
AP
Arnold & Porter
Article
DEI Programs Under Spotlight: A “Wicked” Tale For New York Theater
Recent lawsuits against theater organizations signal a dramatic shift in how diversity, equity and inclusion programs are being legally challenged. From discounted ticket promotions to apprenticeship opportunities, DEI initiatives that once seemed routine are now facing federal scrutiny and litigation under anti-discrimination laws. Theater companies, producers and arts organizations must navigate this evolving legal landscape to protect their programs while continuing to pursue diversity goals.
United States Employment
BS
Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC
Article
AI Stays At Center Stage At Entertainment Industry Collective Bargaining Talks
The 2026 collective bargaining agreements for major entertainment industry unions reveal how artificial intelligence governance has evolved from initial guardrails to comprehensive contractual frameworks. SAG-AFTRA, WGA, and DGA negotiations demonstrate unions' intensified focus on digital replicas, training data transparency, consent requirements, and preserving human creative work as AI capabilities rapidly advance.
United States Employment
JL
Jackson Lewis P.C.
Article
FCC Settles With IHeart Over "Payola" Charges
The Federal Communications Commission has reached a settlement with iHeartMedia over allegations of illegal "payola" practices, where musical artists performed at station events for free or reduced compensation in exchange for favorable airtime without proper disclosure to listeners. This enforcement action reinforces the FCC's longstanding requirement that broadcasters must disclose when content has been paid for and identify who provided the consideration.
United States Media & IT
FK
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz
Article
A New Framework For AI Permissions In Entertainment: RSL Media’s Human Consent Standard
RSL Media has introduced the Human Consent Standard, a machine-readable protocol allowing individuals to declare whether AI systems may use their creative works, identity, likeness, voice, characters, or marks. While endorsed by major entertainment industry figures and organizations, the voluntary standard's effectiveness depends on pending federal legislation like the NO FAKES Act, voluntary adoption by AI developers, and its ability to withstand contractual pressures that could undermine its protective fu
United States IP
GA
Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance (GALA)
Article
After 25 Years, The Verdict Signs Off As Kent Meyers And Mick Cornett Host Final Episode
After 25 years on the air, Oklahoma's public-affairs television program "The Verdict" concludes its remarkable run, marking the end of a quarter-century partnership between Crowe Dunlevy attorney D. Kent Meyers and former Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett. The program, which launched in 2001 with a discussion about the Terry Nichols trial, evolved from a legal-affairs show into a trusted forum for substantive dialogue on law, government, and the issues shaping Oklahoma, featuring political leaders, judges, a
United States Media & IT
CD
Crowe & Dunlevy
Article
Supreme Court Weighs In On When An ISP Is Contributorily Liable For Infringement When Its Customers Are Engaging In Piracy
The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling in Cox Communications v. Sony Music Entertainment, addressing whether internet service providers can be held liable when their customers engage in copyright infringement. The Court's unanimous decision established new boundaries for contributory liability, requiring proof of intent to foster infringement rather than mere knowledge of user misconduct. This precedent-setting case has far-reaching implications for how technology companies and online platforms
United States Media & IT
MF
Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd.
Article
Trademark Law Alert -- Proposed Federal Act Would Protect Individuals Against AI-Generated Fakes
The proposed NO FAKES Act of 2026 seeks to establish federal protection for individuals' digital identities against AI-generated deepfakes by creating a property right in one's voice and visual likeness. This bipartisan legislation would protect all individuals, living or deceased, from unauthorized digital replicas while balancing First Amendment protections and technological innovation. The bill introduces liability frameworks, safe harbors for platforms, and enforcement mechanisms that could fundamentall
United States IP
CL
Cowan Liebowitz & Latman PC
Article
Congress Examines Pro Sports On Streaming Platforms, Questions Need For Antitrust Exemptions
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee recently examined how professional sports' migration from broadcast TV to streaming platforms affects consumers, questioning whether the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act still serves its original purpose. The committee explored concerns about rising costs, exclusive streaming deals, and whether professional sports leagues still need their antitrust exemption in today's digital media landscape.
United States Anti-trust
HK
Holland & Knight
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