Entertainment Litigation
Jackson Walker’s entertainment litigation attorneys handle every type of civil dispute pertaining to the entertainment industry, enabling our broad range of entertainment clients to solve their business challenges and protect their creative works. Our attorneys take an aggressive, but strategic, approach toward the protection and enforcement of our clients’ rights – from minor disputes to precedent-setting cases.
With a strong understanding of the entertainment industry’s various subsets, businesses, and nuances, Jackson Walker has extensive experience in litigation matters concerning rights ownership disputes, royalty disputes, idea submission disputes, copyright infringement, trademark infringement, cybersquatting, Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) domain name disputes, right of privacy violations, defamation claims, and more.
Jackson Walker has represented businesses and individuals around the country at both the state and federal levels, as well as in mediation and arbitration proceedings before providers including the American Arbitration Association (AAA), Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (JAMS), and the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA).
Jackson Walker has also served as go-to local counsel for premiere entertainment law firms out of New York and California for entertainment litigation pending in Texas courts.
While we are proud of our years of courtroom success, Jackson Walker attorneys bring their experience in the complex world of entertainment transactions and digital to bear to help clients craft deals and agreements with the goal of minimizing risk and resolving matters outside of litigation.
- Defense and prosecution of copyright and trademark claims for various industry clients
- Defense of various television networks and celebrities in defamation cases involving traditional and online media
- Defense of major film studio in right of publicity case involving a successful feature film
- Representation of film production company in dispute over film distribution agreement and royalty payments and accountings
- Representation of producers in film production finance agreement disputes
- Representation of large independent music publisher in multi-jurisdictional dispute over music catalog of prolific songwriter
- Representation of entertainment company in dispute over ownership of new media technology for the music industry
- Representation of concert promoter in artist performance agreement dispute
- Representation of various commercial businesses against copyright licensing claims asserted by music and film performance rights organizations
- Defense of major book publisher in copyright infringement suit
- Representation of video game developer in First Amendment dispute
- Defense of online service provider in multi-million dollar online photography copyright infringement suit
- Defense of various entertainment and media companies in online photography cases involving claims of copyright infringement and violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
- Defense of magazine publisher in trademark dispute with competitor
- Defense of major reality television production company in suits involving unfair labor practice claims, including Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) claims
- Local counsel to various entertainment industry clients in the prosecution or defense of copyright and trademark infringement claims brought in Texas
Jackson Walker Secures Dismissal of Claims Against Jed Wallace in ‘It Ends With Us’ Defamation Suit
Jackson Walker obtained a dismissal of all claims asserted in New York federal court against Jed Wallace, a Texas-based social media strategist and principal of Street Relations, Inc. On November 5, 2025, Judge Lewis J. Liman of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted Mr. Wallace’s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. The court held that the claims—rooted in allegations of reputational harm tied to publicity surrounding the film It Ends With Us—fall within New York’s defamation exception to the state’s long-arm statute and therefore could not proceed in New York.
Client Results • November 6, 2025
Jackson Walker Secures Summary Judgment for Kirk Weddle in Nirvana ‘Nevermind’ Album Cover Lawsuit
Jackson Walker secured a complete victory for renowned photographer Kirk Weddle, with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granting summary judgment on September 30, 2025, and holding that Nirvana’s Nevermind album cover is not child pornography as a matter of law. The court dismissed the case with prejudice.
Jackson Walker partners Joshua A. Romero and Emilio B. Nicolas led the defense for Mr. Weddle alongside California counsel at Kendall Brill & Kelly LLP.
Client Results • October 1, 2025
Paul Watler Defends Press Freedom Involving Citizen Journalist in US Supreme Court Case
In a notable development for press freedom, the U.S. Supreme Court on October 15, 2024, vacated the judgment of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in the high-profile case of Villarreal v. Alaniz and remanded the case for further consideration.
Paul Watler and Maggie Burreson, along with lawyers from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, served as counsel for the amici curiae, comprising 21 media organizations, in support of petitioner Priscilla Villarreal.
Client Results • October 21, 2024
Jackson Walker Submits Amicus Brief on Behalf of Prominent Authors and Publishers in Book-Banning Case
The Fifth Circuit heard oral argument yesterday in Little v. Llano County, a First Amendment challenge to Llano County’s removal of books from public library shelves. Jackson Walker’s amicus brief was filed on behalf of best-selling authors Stephen King and James Patterson, the Association of American Publishers, The Authors Guild, and publishers Candlewick Press, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks.
Client Results • September 25, 2024
Jackson Walker Obtains Appellate Victory for Local Radio Station in Defamation Suit
Bob Latham and Michael Murtha successfully defended Chris Samples Broadcasting, operating as KXDJ Radio, against defamation claims related to a series of episodes discussing the death of a teenager from Canadian, Texas.
Client Results • August 15, 2024
Jackson Walker Wins Dismissal of Business Disparagement Lawsuit Against ProPublica and The Texas Tribune
A Jackson Walker team including Marc Fuller, Maggie Burreson, and Josh Romero has won a significant victory for leading nonprofit news organizations ProPublica and The Texas Tribune. On May 22, 2024, the Third Court of Appeals in Austin ordered the dismissal of a 2022 lawsuit alleging business disparagement, tortious interference, and civil conspiracy claims based on an investigative article about local governments’ response to COVID-19 and an entrepreneur’s attempts to market his company’s medical services during the early days of the pandemic.
Client Results • May 24, 2024
Texas Federal Court Dismisses Doctor’s $100M Defamation Suit Against CNN, Setting Useful Precedent for Cases That Interject Political Debate Into Courthouses
Bob Latham and Demi Williams represented CNN in a defamation lawsuit brought by Dr. Stella Immanuel, who publicly advocated for the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to treat COVID-19 during a speech in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. In the suit, Dr. Immanuel contended that CNN reported she “is unfit to be a medical doctor, that her medical judgments and advice are unsafe and/or unsound, and that she peddles disinformation, including harmful medical treatments, and therefore, endangers patients.” She sought $100 million in damages.
Client Results • October 25, 2022
Renowned Photographer Kirk Weddle and Nirvana Win Lawsuit Over Iconic ‘Nevermind’ Album Cover
Josh Romero and Emilio Nicolas successfully represented Kirk Weddle, the photographer behind Nirvana’s iconic Nevermind album cover, in a dispute brought by Spencer Elden. On September 2, 2022, a California-based U.S. District Judge granted the defendants’ Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss the lawsuit as time-barred and, in doing so, dismissed the entire lawsuit with prejudice.
Client Results • September 6, 2022
California Appellate Court Grants Anti-SLAPP Motion to Dismiss Case Brought by Guest on ‘Dr. Phil’
Chip Babcock, Nancy Hamilton, and Joel Glover obtained dismissal of a case brought against Dr. Phil McGraw, Peteski Productions, Inc., and CBS Media Ventures by a former guest of Dr. Phil.
Client Results • August 25, 2022
Jackson Walker Obtains Dismissal of Lawsuits Brought Against Production Company of ‘My 600-Lb Life’
Chip Babcock and Joel Glover successfully represented Megalomedia Inc., the production company behind TLC’s “My 600-lb Life,” in a case brought by a group of past subjects of the reality show.
Client Results • April 25, 2022
Emilio Nicolas to Present at the 35th Annual Entertainment Law Institute
Jackson Walker partner Emilio B. Nicolas will be a featured speaker at the 35th Annual Entertainment Law Institute (ELI), an event co-sponsored by The University of Texas School of Law and the Entertainment and Sports Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.
Speaking Engagements • August 19, 2025
Demi Williams Coles Joins Sports and Entertainment Law Fireside Chat Celebrating Women’s History Month
Demi Williams Coles took part in an inspiring all-women fireside chat in celebration of Women’s History Month. Hosted by the SMU Dedman Sports and Entertainment Law Association, the event brought together leading female attorneys in the sports industry to share their stories, career advice, and insights.
Speaking Engagements • April 1, 2025
Emilio Nicolas Discusses Legal Standards for Copyright Infringement in the M. Night Shyamalan Case
In a recent article published by Asia IP, Jackson Walker partner Emilio B. Nicolas provided an in-depth analysis of the legal standards for copyright infringement, focusing on a high-profile trial involving acclaimed filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan and the Apple TV+ series “Servant”.
Mentions • January 29, 2025
October Highlights: Demi Williams Coles Leads NIL Discussions
During the month of October, Jackson Walker senior counsel Demi Williams Coles participated in three NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) events, providing valuable insights into this evolving legal landscape.
Speaking Engagements • December 27, 2024
