Legal news
Post Foods Sues OK Go Over Right to Use Band’s Name for Instant Cereal
OK Go, the band best known for their viral 2006 treadmill music video, have been sued by Post Foods over the right to continue using the band’s name for a newly launched line of instant cereal cups named OK Go! According to Post’s complaint filed in Minnesota federal court on January 13th (via Billboard), the band had been threatening to sue for months and the company would be “unfairly forced to continue investing in its new OK GO! brand while under the constant threat of unfounded future litigation by defendants.” Post is seeking a declaratory judgment ruling that the company hasn’t done anything wrong, citing its trademark application for OK Go! that was approved in 2022. According to Post, the United States Patent and Trademark Office did not find the cereal line’s name ...
NYPD Filmed Audience Leaving Drake Concert
An NYPD officer filmed the audience leaving Drake’s January 21st concert at the Apollo Theater in New York. Cell phone footage shared on Twitter by the New York Times’s Jon Caramanica captured a uniformed officer holding a camera as the crowd filed out of the main entrance of the Apollo. In a statement to Consequence, a spokesperson for the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information wrote, “The officer depicted in the video is a Community Affairs officer involved with the 28th Precinct’s social media team. The officer was taking video for an upcoming Twitter post that will highlight local community events. The video will not be utilized for any other reason.” Advertisement Related Video The video stoked concerns on social media about the NYPD engaging in surveillance o...
Black Eyed Peas Are Plopped into Legal Battle with Pooping Unicorn Toys
Pooping unicorns might not be the first thing you think of when you think of Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps,” but now that a line of excremental toys play a suspiciously familiar tune, they might be a solid number two. Black Eyed Peas’ music publisher BMG Rights Management aren’t happy about that, and as Reuters reports, BMG is suing the makers of Poopsie Slime Surprise for ripping off “My Humps” with their own song, “My Poops.” Poopsie Slime Surprise comes from MGA, who are responsible for the Bratz line of dolls. According to the lawsuit, “My Poops” plays on one of the dolls when you press a button on its belly, leading both to dance moves and to a less savory movement: the toys “excrete sparkling slime.” “My Poops” can also be heard in a music video made to promote the toys, which...
Black Eyed Peas Are Plopped into Legal Battle with Pooping Unicorn Toys
Pooping unicorns might not be the first thing you think of when you think of Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps,” but now that a line of excremental toys play a suspiciously familiar tune, they might be a solid number two. Black Eyed Peas’ music publisher BMG Rights Management aren’t happy about that, and as Reuters reports, BMG is suing the makers of Poopsie Slime Surprise for ripping off “My Humps” with their own song, “My Poops.” Poopsie Slime Surprise comes from MGA, who are responsible for the Bratz line of dolls. According to the lawsuit, “My Poops” plays on one of the dolls when you press a button on its belly, leading both to dance moves and to a less savory movement: the toys “excrete sparkling slime.” “My Poops” can also be heard in a music video made to promote the toys, which...
Black Eyed Peas Are Plopped into Legal Battle with Pooping Unicorn Toys
Pooping unicorns might not be the first thing you think of when you think of Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps,” but now that a line of excremental toys play a suspiciously familiar tune, they might be a solid number two. Black Eyed Peas’ music publisher BMG Rights Management aren’t happy about that, and as Reuters reports, BMG is suing the makers of Poopsie Slime Surprise for ripping off “My Humps” with their own song, “My Poops.” Poopsie Slime Surprise comes from MGA, who are responsible for the Bratz line of dolls. According to the lawsuit, “My Poops” plays on one of the dolls when you press a button on its belly, leading both to dance moves and to a less savory movement: the toys “excrete sparkling slime.” “My Poops” can also be heard in a music video made to promote the toys, which...
A Room with a View Star Julian Sands Reported Missing After Hiking in San Bernardino
British actor Julian Sands is one of two hikers who went missing last week in San Bernardino County. Police told ABC 7 that Sands’ family reported him missing on Friday evening and rescue teams have launched a search for him. “His wife did report him missing,” sheriff’s office spokesperson Gloria Huerta told ABC 7. “From what I understand, he left sometime that day for a hike and when he did not return, his family reported him missing.” Sands’ car was still parked in the area when the search began. The ongoing investigation has been difficult, however; unusually severe weather in Southern California means the search has been exclusively handled by air crews, and air resources are limited. Advertisement Related Video “The conditions are too dangerous,” Huerta added. “In fact, even some of t...
Alec Baldwin Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter In Rust Shooting
Alec Baldwin will be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021. “After a thorough review of the evidence and the laws of the state of New Mexico, I have determined that there is sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and other members of the Rust film crew,” New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced Thursday (via Deadline). “On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice.” Like Baldwin, Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is also charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Both could face up to $10,000 in fines and a total of over six years in jail. Dave Halls, the film’s first assistant director who handed Baldwin the loaded gun...
Young Thug Trial: Juror Who Left Country Forced to Write 30-Page Essay on Jury Duty
As Young Thug fights for his freedom against RICO charges that have been criticized for prosecutorial overreach, Chief Judge Ural Glanville has punished a prospective juror who left the country by assigning a 30-page essay on jury duty. Via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Juror No. 64 explained in a January 12th appearance before the court that she had traveled to the Dominican Republic on a business trip. She said that she emailed a copy of her travel itinerary to jury services last week, believing she was in compliance with her duties. When No. 64 didn’t appear for jury duty on January 9th, Glanville sent Fulton County deputies to her home. “I didn’t really know I was in violation until the sheriff showed up,” she said. “I thought I was following directions.” Advertiseme...
‘Uptown Funk’ at Heart of New Royalties Lawsuit Against BMG
BMG Rights Management is facing a new lawsuit claiming the publisher has failed to pay royalties from Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars‘ smash hit “Uptown Funk” to the families of late members of the Gap Band who are credited as co-writers on the song. In a complaint filed Thursday in Manhattan federal court, the heirs of Robert and Ronnie Wilson claim that BMG breached a 2015 deal that was inked because “Uptown Funk” incorporated elements of the Gap Band’s 1979 song “I Don’t Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops Upside Your Head).” “Despite its obligations to account for and pay to plaintiffs their share of all income received from the Uptown Funk musical composition, BMG has refused and failed to provide either the funds due to plaintiffs or an accounting despite plaintiffs’ repeated deman...
Michael Bay Charged With Killing Pigeon on Italian Film Set
Michael Bay is in legal trouble in Italy, where a pigeon — a protected bird in the country — allegedly died on his film set. According to TheWrap, a homing pigeon was killed by a dolly during the filming of the 2019 Netflix film 6 Underground. An unnamed individual took a photo of the incident and reported it to the Italian authorities due to a national law that prohibits harming, capturing, or killing any wild bird. As the director of the film, Bay is being held responsible for the pigeon’s death. Italian authorities offered to allow Bay to pay a small fine and settle the case, but he has repeatedly declined the offer, maintaining his innocence in the incident. “I am a well-known animal lover and major animal activist,” Bay told TheWrap. “No animal involved in the production was injured o...
Rick and Morty’s Justin Roiland Charged with Domestic Violence, False Imprisonment
Justin Roiland, lead actor and co-creator of Rick and Morty and Solar Opposites, has been charged with felony domestic violence and false imprisonment related to a 2020 incident, NBC News reports. Roiland appeared in court on January 12th as part of a pre-trial hearing. He was charged in 2020 and pleaded not guilty, though many of the court documents relating to the case remained sealed, and the information didn’t become public until now. Roiland faces one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury and one felony count of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud and/or deceit. Advertisement Related Video On or about January 19th of 2020, Roiland was accused of initiating a violent incident with a Jane Doe whom he was dating at the time. He was charg...
Ezra Miller to Plead Guilty to Lesser Charges in Vermont Burglary Case
Ezra Miller has reached a deal after being accused of felony burglary in Vermont and is expected to plead guilty to lesser charges while the more serious counts are dropped. The embattled The Flash actor was alleged to have broken into a neighbor’s house in Stamford, Vermont on May 1st, 2022, and stolen several bottles of alcohol. They were initially charged with unlawful trespassing, petit larceny, and two charges of burglary in an unoccupied dwelling. The burglary charges alone could have brought a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. Miller initially pleaded not guilty, But as NBC News reports, prosecutors have agreed to drop the larceny and burglary counts as part of the new plea deal. Now, Miller will face a $500 fine, 89 to 90 days in a suspended sentence, and a...
