Numerous Publications Highlight O’Melveny’s Role in Empire Trademark Lawsuit

February 05, 2016

American Lawyer recognized the work of O’Melveny’s Century City office in it a February 5, 2016, Shout-Out for securing victories for two entertainment clients. Partners Dan Petrocelli and Molly Lens represented Twentieth Century Fox Television and won a summary judgment in the Los Angeles federal court in a trademark lawsuit challenging Fox’s use of the name “Empire” in its runaway hit television show. The Court dismissed the lawsuit in its entirety and ruled that Fox’s use was fully protected by the First Amendment.

Petrocelli and partner Bo Pearl represented LiveNation’s Vector Management and its Co-President Jack Rovner and won a dismissal of a New York lawsuit for tortious interference brought by Lukasz Gottwald (professionally known as Dr. Luke), Kasz Money and Prescription Songs arising out of Vector’s management of pop superstar, Kesha. The Supreme Court of New York held that an agent is not liable for contract interference when it acts in good faith within the scope of its authority.

Both wins were widely covered by Law360, The Hollywood Reporter, and Deadline Hollywood, among others.