3 Count: Blame Morty

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1: Qatar’s BeIN Sports Says It Has Proof of Saudi Role in Piracy Dispute

First off today, Tariq Panja at The New York Times reports that Qatar-based beIN Media, which has spent billions of dollars to air various soccer and other sports leagues on its network, claims that it has evidence that Saudi Arabia satellite provider Arabsat is linked to the beoutQ piracy network.

BeoutQ has risen to prominence in recent months as being an unlicensed source for streaming soccer and other sporting events held all over the globe. Saudi Arabia and Arabsat have denied any involvement in beoutQ but, according to BeIN, tests on beoutQ’s signal shows conclusively that it comes from Arabsat. Arabsat released its own report last month, in which seven unidentified experts claimed that their frequencies were not being used.

The accusations come during a period of high tensions between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Last year Saudi Arabia, along with three other area nations, placed an embargo on Qatar and cut off diplomatic ties. The dispute, which centers around Qatar’s alleged support of terrorism and its close relations with Iran has entered its second year and, perhaps most important for beIN, it’s second soccer season.

2: Cubs Fan Cries Foul Over Team’s World Series Ivy Leaf Commemorative, Files Copyright Lawsuit

Next up today, Robert Channick at The Chicago Tribune reports that a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs has filed a lawsuit against the team over the team’s sale of a 2016 World Series ivy leaf commemorative that he claims to have invented some 30 years ago.

The fan, Dan Fox, pitched the idea for a similar commemorative in 1984, a season that saw the team win 96 games. Fox reached a deal with the team to sell and retain ownership of the commemoratives, which featured a single ivy leaf from Wrigley Field in a clear acrylic block. According to Fox, the team attempted a similar promotion in 2001 but abandoned the idea after legal threats from him.

However, in 2016 the Cubs won the World Series and, starting in spring 2017, the team began to sell similar commemoratives without getting Fox’s permission or providing royalties. According to the lawsuit, the team made 2016 of the commemoratives and are selling them for $200 apiece. This prompted Fox to file a lawsuit for copyright infringement, in which he is seeking unspecified damages as well as an injunction barring the sale of the new commemorative.

3: Copyright Dispute Closes ‘Rick and Morty’ Pop-up Bar

Finally today, Sophia Barnes at NBC4 reports that, in Washington D.C., a Rick and Morty-themed pop-up bar has been forced to close after a complaint by Turner Broadcasting and Cartoon Network.

The bar, which was put on by Drink Company, featured Rick and Morty imagery as well as drinks named after the show. However, the Wubba Lubba Dub PUB has been forced to shut its doors after the owners could not work out an arrangement with Turner and Cartoon Network over licensing the show and its characters.

Drink Company has hosted other pop up bars in the same space. One included a popular Game of Thrones bar that didn’t seem to attract any copyright attention at all. However, a Stranger Things pop up bar in Chicago was asked by Netflix to not extend its run and, instead, close at the originally planned time.

Suggestions

That’s it for the three count today. We will be back tomorrow with three more copyright links. If you have a link that you want to suggest a link for the column or have any proposals to make it better. Feel free to leave a comment or send me an email. I hope to hear from you.

The 3 Count Logo was created by Justin Goff and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.