Law Offices of Paul N. Philips, APLC

Kawhi Leonard - double #NBA Finals MVP and one of the modern greats. His trademark huge hands (11.5 across) are the basis for the Kawhi Leonard logo (a stylized hand picturing his initials called the Klaw) used on @nike shoes since Kawhi signed with Nike. When he moved from Nike to @newbalance he sued Nike for the right to use the logo with the new brand, and Nike countersued him for copyright infringement, claiming Nike owned the logo. Kawhi had in fact designed a similar... logo in college, and showed it to Nike, but admitted along the way that Nike had perfected it. Result? Kawhi just lost the lawsuit, with a federal judge in Oregon (Nike’s home state...hmm) throwing his case out and decreeing the logo Nike’s property. Lesson? Protect your #intellectualproperty as an entertainer, and enter agreements EARLY that give ownership to YOU so there’s no later debate. I’m talking to you if you’re a #musician, #artist, #actor, #producer, #athlete, or anyone planning to develop a brand. See more

Who DOESN’T like @billyjoel? Piano Man? C’mon. Anyway - just know that if you’re not a fan, we can’t be friends. So Billy has just been hit with a copyright lawsuit - but not over his music. Instead, he’s accused of stealing plans for a home renovation project in #newyork. Apparently he fired a designer but then used that designer’s plans on his home anyway. Yes, architectural plans enjoy copyright protection. This is why, when you represent entertainment clients, your work... off and spills into subject matter areas other than just music, film, etc. it’s what keeps entertainment law exciting and ever-changing. Interested to see how this goes, because the design project was only valued at $127,000 - less than I imagine Joel will spend defending the case if it ends up a full legal battle. Also less than a potential award to be had by the plaintiff If intentional copyright infringement is found ($150,000). Another situation in which the defendant could simply have paid a lot less for a license to use the plans than he stands to pay now in legal defense fees and a potential award. Tsk tsk. See more

Summer is around the corner, and even though you’ll probably have to enjoy it from home, enjoy it nonetheless. #allinthistogether

#varsityblues - that little college scandal that netted several entertainment industry members, a criminal mastermind behind eliciting bribes to get kids into top flight #colleges, and one Jorge Salcedo - the (former) #ucla men’s soccer head coach. Just announced that Salcedo will now plead guilty to accepting $200k in bribes to get kids into UCLA as fake soccer recruits. One of Salcedo’s failed defenses? That UCLA has regularly accepted unqualified #collegestudents in exch...ange for huge donations by the students’ wealthy parents. Oh..I see...UCLA did it, so you were legally entitled to legally run a side business in the racketeering game? Ugh. What the hell is wrong with people? Salcedo will be sentenced per federal guidelines and will have to forfeit the $200k. Way to go, my man. My son has played soccer for 14 years, and the game is political enough, and already struggles to earn mainstream acceptance in the US. This is unfortunately puts a nice black eye on it. See more

@zionwilliamson - pure stud who was a star for @dukembb and is now crushing it in the @nba for the @pelicansnba. His sports representation contract with the Prime Sports agency is at the center of a legal dispute because a #Louisiana man says he’s owed 5% of it, but apparently negotiations started while Williamson was still at Duke, which may invalidate the deal altogether. This gets stickier - Williamson actually sued Prime Sports to get out of his contract to begin with in order to go over to @creativeartistsagency (the largest sports rep agency on the planet), at which Prime sued CAA seeking $100M in damages. Stay tuned - this is a mess but I know from my days an an @NFL Player Agent that it’s common in sports for athletes to switch agencies, and when there’s a lot of on the line, there will be fights.

COVID weekends bring on opportunities for home improvement projects. Started my day with a legal brief and a deposition outline, ended the afternoon finishing off a bathroom remodel. Today was a good day.