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Summer Walker Invokes California Law to Exit Interscope Deal, Triggering $50M Lawsuit
2 days ago•Source: Billboard
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14.22 min•9 days ago
Microsoft-Owned Studios Force AI-Generated Fallout and Call of Duty Projects Offline
Activision and Bethesda have issued legal threats against two AI-generated video game projects, forcing their creators to take them offline. The first, 'Fallout: New York,' was a browser-based recreation of the franchise built with Claude Opus 5.5, while the second involved an AI-assisted decompilation of the original 'Modern Warfare 2.' Both actions highlight a growing conflict between large publishers and independent developers using generative AI to recreate or reverse-engineer existing intellectual property.
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Sony Argues Digital Games Are Licenses, Not Ownership
Kotaku•1 month ago
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Global Antitrust Storm Hits Sony Over Disc-Free PlayStation Store
Kotaku•2 months ago
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Swift’s Lawyer Battles Trademark Suit Over 'Life of a Showgirl' Title
Taylor Swift’s longtime attorney appeared in a Los Angeles federal court to argue that The Life of a Showgirl is protected by the First Amendment as an expressive work, seeking to defeat a preliminary injunction in a trademark dispute with Las Vegas performer Maren Wade over branding and merch; a written decision on the injunction is expected soon, with separate motions to dismiss still pending.
Sony Faces Class Action Over Tariff Windfall on PS5
A California federal class action accuses Sony Interactive Entertainment of retaining a windfall from IEEPA tariffs and seeks refunds from CBP passed to PS5 buyers after a Supreme Court ruling that the tariffs were unlawful. Plaintiffs contend Sony raised PS5 prices by up to $200 between Aug 2025 and Apr 2026 to offset the tariffs, and that the refunds would amount to a double-dip if kept by Sony; the nationwide class covers PS5 buyers from Aug 1, 2025 to present. The suit was filed May 6, 2026 and mirrors a recent Nintendo-related case.
BoA 7-Eleven ATM Fee Class Action Settles for $2.25 Million
A $2.25 million class-action settlement resolves claims that Bank of America charged multiple out-of-network balance-inquiry fees during a single visit to FCTI-operated ATMs in 7-Eleven stores between May 1, 2018 and Nov 16, 2021. Eligible accountholders can file claims by June 29, 2026 (proof of purchase required); current accountholders need not file to receive benefits, while former accountholders must file. The final approval hearing is August 21, 2026, and individual payouts are TBD. Details and deadlines, including exclusion/objection options, are on the settlement site; Bank of America has not admitted wrongdoing.
Samsung Defends Image Use, Cites Partner's Consent in Dua Lipa Lawsuit
Samsung responded to Dua Lipa’s lawsuit by saying the image on its TV boxes came from a content partner who provided explicit permission for both TV content and retail packaging, and rejected allegations of intentional misuse. Lipa’s lawyers allege her likeness appeared on U.S. Samsung TV packaging throughout 2025 and 2026, seeking $15 million in damages. Samsung says it’s open to a constructive resolution and blames the issue on the partner who supplied the image.
Sony to pay $7.85M to settle PS Store antitrust class action
Sony Interactive Entertainment has agreed to a $7.85 million class-action settlement to resolve claims of antitrust violations by monopolizing the PlayStation digital game market. Eligible consumers who purchased digital games via the PlayStation Store between April 1, 2019 and December 31, 2023 (meeting specific voucher and price-change criteria) may receive settlement benefits. The claim deadline is July 2, 2026 (proof of purchase required), with deactivated PSN accounts needing purchase info by August 27, 2026. No claim form is required for some distributions, and a final approval hearing is set for October 15, 2026. Sony has not admitted wrongdoing.
Sony to Issue $7.8M in PSN Credits After Settlement Gets Preliminary OK
A Northern District of California court granted preliminary approval to a $7.8 million PSN Digital Games class action settlement against Sony, with credits to eligible U.S. PSN purchasers of specific digital titles from 2019–2023. The credits will be awarded automatically via email, and a fairness hearing is set for October 15, 2026 to finalize the deal. The settlement covers game-specific vouchers from retailers and is separate from the ongoing PlayStation You Owe Us suit; eligibility and title list are on the settlement site.
Wells Fargo settles CARES Act FCRA case for $56.85M
Wells Fargo has agreed to a $56.85 million class action settlement to resolve FCRA claims that it inaccurately reported CARES Act forbearances; California mortgagors with current loans who received CARES Act forbearances may share in the net settlement, with a March 25, 2026 claim/exclusion deadline and a final approval hearing on April 17, 2026.
Lively Slams Baldoni in Unsealed Swift Texts Tied to It Ends With Us Case
Unsealed text messages reveal Blake Lively and Taylor Swift trading sharp words about director Justin Baldoni—calling him a “doofus director,” “clown,” and “bitch”—as part of the It Ends With Us lawsuit; Swift compares the situation to a looming horror film, and Lively apologizes for taking up Swift’s time. The disclosures come amid ongoing court battles over Swift’s texts, with Baldoni’s subpoenas and Lively’s own request for Scooter Braun’s PR records shaping the case.
Biglaw Partner's Outburst Over Parking Spot Sparks Controversy
Richard Pitt, a partner at Eversheds Sutherland, faced backlash for blocking a pregnant associate's car in a parking dispute at the Cardiff office. Enraged by the associate taking his reserved spot, Pitt parked his car to trap hers, demanding a written and later an in-person apology. The situation was resolved after Pitt issued an apology for his "regrettable error of judgement."
'Rust' Armorer Seeks New Trial Following Alec Baldwin Case Dismissal
Attorneys for "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed have filed for a new trial or dismissal of her case, citing prosecutorial misconduct and discovery violations, following the dismissal of Alec Baldwin's related case. They argue that withheld evidence and false statements by the special prosecutor compromised the integrity of the judicial process. Gutierrez Reed, convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 on-set shooting, is currently serving an 18-month sentence.