Contoversy

In today’s world lawsuits are being filed at higher rate than every before. Certain people get sued over the smallest things but others file lawsuits that can have a major impact and affect on businesses and lives.  In this blog I will review three current entertainment controversies and my opinion about each.

The first controversy that I will go over is one involving an entertainer that has been in the acting industry since a toddler. She started her career on “The Cosby Show” playing as Rudy. Now she can be seen on “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne”.  Keshia Knight Pulliam is being sued by her former talent agency for unpaid commissions.  In 2007 the agency and Pulliam reached an agreement to take 10 percent of all her earnings. The agency is the reason for Pulliam’s role on “House of Payne”. The lawsuit is claimed for more than $100,000 for unpaid commissions and another $250,000 in future commissions.  In my opinion I do believe that her former talent agency is entitled to the monies that they are owed from Pulliam. They both reached an oral as well as a written agreement for the commissions and that rate should be honored. To see the complete lawsuit facts for Pulliam's claim.

My second legal controversy issue that I will review comes from the legendary Jimmy Buffett and his Margaritaville restaurant chain. This controversy involves a trademark issue with a restaurant located in Florida named Martiniville. The restaurant changing its name to Martini Bistro settled the dispute. With a possible $750,000 pay out if the case was lost Mike Hynds, the restaurant’s owner felt like the payout was "not worth the risk". I believe that Hynds should have not changed his restaurant’s name because the ending “ville” is also the endings for a lot of cities and they do not have the same issue with changing the cities name so why should he have to change the name of this business. Is it because Buffett is a famous entertainer and has a chain of Margaritaville restaurants?

The final legal lawsuit involves Sony Music.  Artist Maya Hayuk a well know painter who has had her work published all over the world. She is suing RCA Records and Sony Records for a video shot for Elle Varner featuring J. Cole.  This is a very tricky lawsuit in my eyes because if they have a permit to shoot the video then why is it a big issue that they so happen to shoot in front of a custom work of art. See for yourself the claim information and the videos in question.