3 Count: Badder Boys

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1: Columbia Pictures Settles Copyright Lawsuit Over Rights to ‘Bad Boys’ Story

First off today, Winston Cho at The Hollywood Reporter Esquire reports that Columbia PIctures has reached a settlement with George Gallo, the author of the story that became the 1995 film Bad Boys.

Gallow had filed a notice of copyright termination. Copyright Termination is a system through which original rightsholders can sometimes reclaim rights to their work after a set amount of time. According to Gallo, Columbia Pictures lost its rights to the story in June 2022, which created a problem for the studio ahead of the film Bad Boys 4.

Columbia Pictures argued that copyright termination did not apply because Gallo was an employee of his company at the time. The 1976 Copyright Act, which created the termination clause, did not consider such situations. However, the two sides have since reached a settlement, the terms of which have not been disclosed.

2: Hollywood Trainer Tracy Anderson’s Famous ‘Method’ Is ‘Uncopyrightable,’ a Judge Ruled

Next up today, Katie Warren and Natalie Musumeci at Business Insider report that celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson has been dealt a legal blow. A judge has ruled that her “method” is not protectable by copyright.

In July 2022, Anderson sued Megan Roup, who began offering a similar dance-based workout routine. Anderson attempted to claim copyright infringement, comparing it to choreography, but the judge has ruled that her method can not be protected under copyright.

The case is moving forward with a breach of contract claim. Roup, for her part, claims to have invented her system from the ground up and says that this is part of a larger pattern for Anderson to prevent others from creating competing systems.

3: Latin Music Star Feid Hit With Copyright Lawsuit Over Sample Used in ‘Ferxxo 100’

Finally today, Daniel Tencer at Music Business Worldwide reports that musician Sebastien Graux has filed a lawsuit against Feid, alleging that the artist used samples of his in various songs without permission.

Graux alleges that at least three of Feid’s tracks, Ferxxo 100, X20X and De Tanto Chimbiar, contain unlicensed samples of his music. He alleges that he gave some of his music to one of the producers who worked on Feid’s songs, only to have the samples used without permission.

Graux is seeking statutory damages and a producer credit on the songs. Of the songs at issue, Ferxxo 100 is the best known, having been streamed 245 million times on YouTube and 444 million times on Spotify.

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