The right of publicity provides protection to an individual and prevents another individual or corporation from exploiting their identity or likeness for commercial gain without first securing permission.[1] However, this protection is seemingly non-existent for college athletes and the NCAA…
The state of New Jersey continues to push for the legalization of sports betting within its borders in the case Governor Christopher J. Christie, et al. v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, et al. The latest appeal by New Jersey currently…
Football is by far America’s most popular sport.[1] The National Football League’s (“NFL”) revenue is projected to be $13.3 billion in the 2016 season,[2] and has grown by nearly 50% since 2010.[3] This is more than any of their competing…
Derrick Rose was recently sued in federal civil court because he and two friends allegedly gang-raped a woman. A federal civil trial was held in California in which Jane Doe is suing Rose and his friends for sexual battery. The trial…
On Friday, September 23, 2016, the Second Circuit denied an appeal by former World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE) wrestler, William Albert Haynes III (professionally known as Billy Jack) alleging that the corporation intentionally hid the risks of traumatic brain injuries…
Though the NFL offseason is set to begin, and many new stories will dominate the media, one story refuses to go away: Deflategate. With the case currently on appeal, it is important to entertain the possibility that the Deflategate saga…
At the beginning of September, Sony Pictures Entertainment released a trailer for Concussion, a movie that paints a scathing picture of how representatives of the National Football League (NFL) attempted to cover-up and discredit the research of Dr. Bennet Omalu,…
Recently, Edward O’Bannon, at the age of forty-one and working as a car salesman in Las Vegas, recognized himself in a video game. He became distressed and concerned that his likeness was being used without his consent—and without any form…
In June 2014, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) shocked football fans everywhere when it granted a petition to cancel six Washington Redskins trademark registrations. Filed by Navajo Amanda Blackhorse and four other Native Americans, the petition sought to…
On February 19, 2014, Ray Rice, star running back for the Baltimore Ravens, assaulted his then-fiancée, Janay Palmer, in a hotel elevator in Atlantic City, New Jersey. This incident brought an increased level of scrutiny towards professional athletes and their organizations by shining a spotlight on egregious…
This past October, a group of professional women’s soccer players, including stars Abby Wambach and Nadine Angerer, filed a lawsuit alleging gender discrimination against FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association (the “CSA”) in the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal. The suit…
The sport of mixed-martial arts (“MMA”) continues to grow wildly in popularity. It boasts an avid and involved fan base and is widely available and watched on television. Yet, professional MMA events are banned in New York State. New York…
