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Celebrity Lawsuits

Our Celebrity Lawsuits section includes stories on news-making litigation involving famous actors, professional athletes, and other public figures.

Recent Stories

Beasties, The Godfather of Funky Soul and Pretty Women: When Does "Sampling" Other Artists' Music Equal Copyright Infringement?
Sep 2011

In the early 90's song "Pass the Mic," the Beastie Boys used a six second segment from jazz flutist James Newton's composition "Choir" prompting him to sue on the grounds of copyright infringement despite a licensing fee. You can protect yourself by compensating the artist through a license. But, how much of someone else's work can you use without a license? more...

10 Celebrities Convicted of Tax Evasion
Apr 2011

Despite tax evasion being a serious crime that can bring steep penalties and even jail time, there are still those who try to avoid paying their taxes. As we finish up our own taxes this tax season, here are 10 high-profile tax evasion cases that are a reminder of what can happen when you don’t pay your taxes—even to the rich and famous. more...

10 Famous People Who Died Without a Will
Mar 2011

When someone famous suffers an untimely death, how they managed their personal affairs comes to light. For these ten celebrities, the effects of their lack of planning had far-reaching consequences. For one, Jimi Hendrix, the legal battle over his estate has lasted for 30 years. Read more about this and other real-world examples of what not to do as you plan your own estate. more...

Superhero Intellectual Property Disputes
Oct 2010

Force fields are no protection against copyright and trademark lawsuits. Many of our best-loved superheroes (and the millions of dollars they rake in) have been the subjects of intellectual property disputes. It takes authors, comic book publishers, and movie studios to build iconic superhero franchises, but who gets the credit—and the cash—for bringing our heroes to life? more...