The Music Majors within the Digital Music Worlds – Music Enterprise Analysis

The Music Majors within the Digital Music Worlds – Music Enterprise Analysis

by | Dec 7, 2025 | Entertainment Law, Music Business, Podcast News


What position do main music labels play in creating digital music avatars? Are Common, Sony and Warner spearheading innovation by creating their very own AI musicians, or are they merely responding to present traits and technological developments? These questions will probably be answered partially 5 of the “Digital Music Worlds” sequence.

Digital Music Worlds – Half 5: The Music Majors within the Digital Music Worlds

Warner Music Group: Whet Information, Genuine Artists, Noonoouri

The main music labels, Common, Sony and Warner, haven’t been pioneers within the area of digital and, particularly, AI-generated artists. In July 2021, Warner Music Group’s Chinese language sub-label, Whet Information, signed the digital artist Ha Jiang. At that time, the avatar was already an influential influencer who was additionally positioned as a rap musician.[1] The Whet/Warner deal aimed to determine the digital artist as a music star, however this evidently failed. 4 years later, Ha Jiang has nearly disappeared from the web. Whet Information’ YouTube channel has solely 26 movies and three,420 subscribers, and has not been up to date for 3 years. The one content material that includes Ha Jiang is a “Drunk Groove” remix by the blue-haired digital singer, which has had a modest 109,637 views in 4 years.[2]

Additional monetary involvement within the digital music world additionally seems to be unsustainable for Warner. In June 2022, Warner Music Group led an funding consortium that offered thousands and thousands of US {dollars} in funding to “Genuine Artists”, an AI firm based by Chris McGarry in San Francisco in 2019.[3] The consequence was the event of twelve prototypes of supernatural digital artist avatars, starting from cyborgs to iguana DJs, which had been featured on the in-house label “WharpSound”.[4] Nonetheless, the provide, which was apparently aimed primarily on the gaming group, didn’t appear to have met with the required response. Chris McGarry’s final interview for the New Yorker dates from February 2023 and asks whether or not AI steals from artists.[5] After that, issues went quiet round “Genuine Artists” and its founder. The homepage “authentic-artists.ai” is simply as unavailable because the “WharpSound” label’s webpage. Warner will in all probability have already written off its funding in “Genuine Artists”.

In September 2023, Warner Music Germany signed a brand new music avatar. Style influencer Noonoouri, who has modelled for manufacturers equivalent to Dior, Lacoste, Balenciaga, Valentino and Versace, and whose followers embody Kim Kardashian, Naomi Campbell and Lewis Hamilton,[6] recorded the tune “Dominoes” with German DJ Alle Farben for Warner. Whereas Noonoouri’s voice is AI-generated, similar to her digital look, the lyrics of the tune had been contributed by a collective of songwriters.[7]

Behind Noonoouri is Joerg Zuber, who has been working the artistic company Joerg Zuber Studio in Munich for greater than 20 years. Zuber had the thought of making a digital influencer and launching her available on the market. Zuber’s idea was initially met with rejection, so he determined to take a danger and launched the computer-generated avatar in February 2018 with none monetary backing. However when celebrities equivalent to Naomi Campbell and Marc Jacobs grew to become followers and well-known trend manufacturers found Noonoouri, the success was unstoppable.[8] Noonoouri now has round 500,000 followers on Instagram,[9] and the music video for “Dominoes” has been considered round 300,000 occasions (as of September 2025).[10] Following the success of the debut album, Warner 2024 teamed up with Enisa Nikaj, a New Yorker of Albanian descent who’s signed to the Atlantic sub-label, on the tune challenge “Up All Nite” with Noonoouri. Nonetheless, “Up All Nite” was unable to match the success of the debut single. With just below 394,000 performs on Spotify[11] and round 180,000 views on YouTube,[12] it lags far behind “Dominoes”. However, one other try was made in Could 2025 to determine Noonoouri as a pop star with the discharge of the third single, ‘Launch Me’. For this single, the avatar collaborated with twin brothers Harvey Kitt and Max Luca Mills, who got here second as duo Max and Harvey within the TV expertise present “The X Issue: Celeb”.[13] Nonetheless, success has been modest up to now. The YouTube video has had round 273,500 views within the first 4 months[14] and ‘Launch Me’ has been performed simply over 292,500 occasions on Spotify.[15] Which means Noonoouri continues to be a great distance from reaching the heights of human pop stars and subsequently stays primarily a profitable trend influencer.

Common Music Group: Kingship, FN Mekka, Genies Inc.

Common Music Group additionally entered the digital pop star enterprise in 2021. 5 months after Warner Music Group, Common’s sub-label “10:22PM” introduced the formation of the digital band Kingship.[16] The “band members” had been 4 characters from the profitable NFT challenge “Bored Ape Yacht Membership”, which continued with the “Mutant Ape Yacht Membership” and one other 20,000 ape NFTs in any case 10,000 NFTs of the long-lasting apes had been offered. Common, or “10:22PM”, hoped to capitalise on the recognition of the NFT apes and licensed the NFT characters to type a band.[17] In Could 2022, Common offered 5,000 NFT key playing cards, permitting consumers to entry the band’s digital world and different tokenised merchandise and experiences, because the cult monkeys had been set to make their debut within the metaverse. Initially priced at 0.19 Ether (roughly US $286), the NFTs had been traded on the Ethereum blockchain. By the tip of July 2022, all NFT playing cards had been offered, producing US $1.43 million in income for Common.[18]

What reads like the start of successful story led to catastrophe. On the finish of December 2024, Common deactivated all the monkey band’s social media accounts and deleted all of their YouTube and Discord channels.[19] What had occurred? Again in November 2023, the creator of Kingship, Celine Joshua, had left the “10:22PM” label for BMG Rights Administration.[20] By this level, the NFT increase had was a speculative bubble, with 95 per cent of NFT collections proving to be nugatory. Greater than 23 million NFT traders had misplaced their cash.[21] Common was pressured to take motion to keep away from being dragged right into a maelstrom of lawsuits alleging investor fraud. The value of NFTs from the “Bored Ape Yacht Membership” had plummeted, prompting traders to sue Yuga Labs, the producer of the NFT apes, in addition to celebrities equivalent to Justin Bieber, Madonna, Snoop Dogg, Publish Malone and Serena Williams, and corporations equivalent to Adidas and the public sale home Sotheby’s. The plaintiffs accused the defendants of artificially inflating the worth of NFTs via their promoting of the ‘Bored Ape Yacht Membership’ to use small traders.[22] Common was not concerned within the lawsuit, however the challenge with the digital monkey avatars, which had began so promisingly, failed miserably on account of a misjudgement of the NFT market.

An excellent greater catastrophe was Common’s US subsidiary Capitol Information’ signing of “robotic rapper” FN Mekka in August 2021. Referring to the controversial avatar’s ten million TikTok followers, Capitol Information and FN Mekka’s developer, Manufacturing facility New, struck a deal to supply the only “Florida Water”. The tune, which was produced by a group led by Travis Scott, was created in collaboration with US rapper Guna {and professional} Fortnite gamer Clix.[23] This provoked a storm of indignation, particularly among the many Black group in america. The civil rights group Trade Blackout strongly criticised Capitol’s collaboration with Manufacturing facility New: “[W]e discover fault within the lack of information in how offensive this caricature [Anm. FN Mekka] is. It’s a direct insult to the Black group and our tradition. An amalgamation of gross stereotypes, appropriative mannerisms that derive from Black artists, full with slurs infused in lyrics.”[24] After solely two weeks of collaboration, Capitol Information was pressured to cancel the FN Mekka deal on account of huge public protests and apologise to the Black group: “We provide our deepest apologies to the Black group for our insensitivity in signing this challenge with out asking sufficient questions on fairness and the artistic course of behind it.”[25] Shortly after this press launch, the tune “Florida Water” was faraway from all streaming platforms.

In 2021, Common not solely tried to capitalise on the NFT and TikTok increase but in addition wished to determine a presence in Net 3.0 and, above all, in Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse. To this finish, Common entered a partnership with Los Angeles-based tech firm Genies Inc.,[26] which describes itself as a pacesetter within the creation of avatars for the metaverse.[27] Months earlier, Warner Music Group had already introduced its collaboration with Genies.[28]

Genies Inc. was based in 2017 by Akash Nigam and Evan Rosenbaum, who had beforehand met as faculty college students on the College of Michigan and launched the photo-sharing app Mix. As Mix’s success was modest, Nigam and Rosenbaum turned their consideration to creating personalised avatars utilizing AI.[29] This concept was very effectively acquired, and the primary traders got here ahead, offering a complete of US$ 40 million in enterprise capital between 2017 and 2019.[30] Armed with recent capital, the Genies founders developed a software program improvement package (SDK) that enabled customers to create their very own avatars on cell gadgets. Nonetheless, Genies’ actual breakthrough got here after they began creating avatars for celebrities, together with many pop stars trying to promote their model in Net 3 purposes and, above all, within the metaverse. The primary big-name stars to have avatars created by Genies had been Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes. Genies additionally started providing NFTs for star avatar equipment and different branded merchandise on the Dapper Labs blockchain. Seeing this success, Warner and Common now wished to fee avatars for his or her stars as effectively.[31]

This naturally attracted the eye of further traders, and in Could 2021, San Francisco-based enterprise capital agency BOND, along with an funding consortium, invested US $65 million in Genies, and BOND co-founder Mary Meeker joined the corporate’s government board.[32] There, in March 2022, she was joined by Walt Disney Inc. CEO Bob Iger, who additionally invested within the Avatar developer.[33] Only one month later, Genies achieved its greatest monetary coup so far when US personal fairness agency Silver Lake, which additionally held shares in Dell, Alibaba, William Morris Endeavor, Seagate Expertise and the New York tech trade NASDAQ, offered the corporate with US $150 million, pushing its worth to US $1 billion.[34] Regardless of this success story, the enterprise with star avatars within the metaverse has not likely taken off but. As we now have already proven elsewhere, the metaverse is more and more proving to be an enormous misinvestment, and corporations which have guess on this horse are already starting to query their investments. This additionally applies, in fact, to the 2 music majors, which had hoped that star avatars within the metaverse would generate further income, however this has not materialised up to now.

VTuber Initiatives by Sony Music Leisure Japan

Sony Music Leisure has not but entered the AI-generated music avatar enterprise, however Sony Music Leisure Japan (SMEJ), which operates as an impartial firm underneath the Sony Group umbrella, made its first entry into the avatar enterprise in Japan in 2022 with the PRISM challenge. Launched in January 2021, the challenge targets the VTuber group. It is a development originating in Japan, the place YouTubers – also referred to as digital YouTubers – use a computer-generated digital avatar as a substitute of their very own persona to create and stream content material.[35] SMEJ wished to faucet into this potential with the PRISM challenge and introduced an audition in August 2022 for VTubers in Japan who may take part with their avatars.[36] Nonetheless, the massive breakthrough has not materialised. Probably the most profitable artist so far has been Shiki Miyoshino, who had 160,000 subscribers on YouTube and generated round 300,000 views together with her most profitable music movies.[37]

One other music avatar challenge by SMEJ – ‘VEE Digital Leisure’ – has additionally not been profitable up to now. Much like the PRISM challenge, VTubers had been to be developed to succeed in a wider viewers with their music avatars. In Could 2022, the primary three digital VTuber abilities had been introduced to the general public and featured on YouTube, Twitch and Spotify.[38] A yr later, the avatars’ music movies had racked up a couple of tens of 1000’s of views on YouTube and remained under the radar on Spotify and Twitch.[39]

Up to now, the key labels haven’t fared effectively within the music avatar enterprise. Blinded by giant person numbers, they’ve tried to capitalise on present traits with out producing them themselves, as demonstrated by Common’s failures with the NFT apes and TikTok rapper FN Mekka. There’s a clear lack of expertise of how these new applied sciences work and what their potential is. The financial significance of the metaverse and the VTuber development in Japan have each been massively overestimated. In contrast to South Korean and Chinese language leisure corporations, the music majors haven’t invested in their very own music avatar initiatives. As an alternative, as with Warner’s funding in Noonoouri, they’re merely shopping for into them, with modest outcomes. The majors aren’t trendsetters, however fairly know-how followers who danger being left behind if AI-driven success breaks via for music avatars.

Endnotes

[1] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “This digital artist simply inked a serious report deal in China. One-off gimmick – or an indication of the long run?”, July 29, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-02.

[2] YouTube, “Whet Information”, n.d., accessed: 2025-09-02.

[3] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Warner’s newest web3 transfer is an funding in digital artist and metaverse platform Genuine Artists”, June 23, 2022, accessed: 2025-09-02.

[4] Selection, “Digital-Musician Startup Genuine Artists, Backed by James Murdoch and Mike Shinoda, Comes Out of Stealth”, April 7, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-02.

[5] The New Yorker, “Is A.I. Artwork Stealing from Artists?”, February 10, 2023, accessed: 2025-09-02.

[6] Forbes, “Digital Influencer Noonoouri Lands Document Deal: Is She The Future Of Music?”, September 5, 2023, accessed: 2025-09-03.

[7] Ibid.

[8] At the very least, that’s what Joerg Zuber says in a brief video on YouTube, “Noonoouri: Abgelehnte Idee wird zum Riesen-Erfolg”, February 16, 2025, accessed: 2025-09-03.

[9] Instagram, “Noonoouri”, n.d., accessed: 2025-09-03.

[10] YouTube, “noonoouri & Alle Farben – Dominoes (Official Music Video)”, September 1, 2023, accessed: 2025-09-03.

[11] Spotify, “Noonoouri”, n.d., accessed: 2025-09-03.

[12] YouTube, “noonoouri & ENISA – Up All Nite”, June 28, 2024, accessed: 2025-09-03.

[13] FAZEMag, “noonoouri: von der Modewelt ins Musik-Enterprise mit ‘Launch Me’ (Warner Music)”, Could 9, 2025, accessed: 2025-09-03.

[14] YouTube, “noonoouri & Max and Harvey – Launch Me”, Could 9, 2025, accessed: 2025-09-03.

[15] Spotify, “Noonoouri”, n.d., accessed: 2025-09-03.

[16] Common Music Group press launch, “10:22PM Types Kingship, the First-ever Group Consisting of NFT Characters from Bored Ape Yacht Membership”, November 11, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-04.

[17] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Meet KINGSHIP, a brand new digital group launched by Common label 10:22PM”, November 12, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-04.

[18] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Common’s digital band KINGSHIP simply offered out its total assortment of 5,000 NFT ‘Key Playing cards’”, July 21, 2022, accessed: 2025-09-04.

[19] Digital Music Information, “So Lengthy, Kingship — Bored Ape ‘Supergroup’ Deletes Social Handles, YouTube Channel, and Web site As NFT Fallout Continues”, December 27, 2024, accessed: 2025-09-04.

[20] Ibid.

[21] Digital Music Information, “95% of NFT Collections, Held by Over 23 Million Folks, Are Now ‘Nugatory,’ Examine Finds”, September 21, 2023, accessed: 2025-09-04.

[22] Digital Music Information, “Federal Decide Rejects Dismissal Motions in Bored Ape NFT Lawsuit Towards Justin Bieber, Madonna, and Many Others”, August 21, 2024, accessed: 2025-09-04.

[23] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Capitol Information simply signed a digital artist, FN Meka. He has over 10 million followers on TikTok”, August 12, 2022, accessed: 2025-09-09.

[24] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Capitol drops ‘robotic rapper’ FN Meka, as challenge is accused of being an ‘insult to the Black group’”, August 24, 2022, accessed: 2025-09-09.

[25] Ibid.

[26] Common Music Group press launch, “Common Music Group and Genies Announce International Patrtnership to Develop Avatars and Digital Wearable NFTs for the Firm’s Iconic Roster of Artists”, December 9, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-09.

[27] Crunchbase, “Genies”, n.d., accessed: 2025-09-09.

[28] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Warner Music Group companions with tech firm Genies to develop avatars and NFTs for WMG artists”, April 30, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-09.

[29] TechCrunch, “Meet ‘Genies,’ the lifelike customized avatars that reenact information”, December 8, 2017, accessed: 2025-09-09.

[30] Crunchbase, “Genies”, n.d., accessed: 2025-09-09.

[31] Engadget, “Rihanna, Migos and extra are getting official metaverse avatars”, December 13, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-09.

[32] TechCrunch, “Avatar startup Genies scores $65 million in funding spherical led by Mary Meeker’s Bond”, Could 3, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-09.

[33] The Wall Avenue Journal, “After Walt Disney, Robert Iger Heads to the Metaverse”, March 14, 2022, accessed: 2025-09-09.

[34] TechCrunch, “Avatar startup Genies hits $1 billion valuation in newest increase”, April 12, 2022, accessed: 2025-09-09.

[35] Wikipedia, “VTuber”, model of September 3, 2025, accessed: 2025-09-09.

[36] PR Newswire, “Digital Expertise Administration Company PRISM Challenge Publicizes 2022 Auditions”, August 9, 2022, accessed: 2025-09-09.

[37] YouTube, “Shiki Miyoshino”, n.d., accessed: 2025-09-09.

[38] Anime Information Community, “Sony Music Leisure (Japan) Inc. Publicizes VTuber Challenge ‘VEE’, 5 1st Gen Abilities to Debut”, Could 23, 2022, accessed: 2025-09-09.

[39] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Meet the digital artists backed by a number of the world’s greatest leisure corporations”, Could 22, 2023, accessed: 2025-09-09.



0n the nȩw album, Come See Me in the Greaƫ Mild, Sarah Bareilles.

0n the nȩw album, Come See Me in the Greaƫ Mild, Sarah Bareilles.

by | Nov 30, 2025 | Entertainment Law, Music Business, Podcast News

Apple Pσdcasts, Spotify, Amazon Podcasts, and oƫher programs aɾe available to subscribe via.

Traⱱel See Mȩ in the Great Light, an AppIe TV film she senior prσduced with Brandi Carlile, iȿ α topic of conversation for Sara Bαreilles and Kyle Meredįth. Megan Falley and Andrea Giƀson, thȩ fiIm’s lead couple, are undergoing a terminal cancer treatmeȵt. Talk in the apps above or wherever you can find them.

Barȩilles describes how she came across Andrea’s last Colorado displays, how tⱨe project came about αt α loss-stricken time, and ⱨow the film’s use σf grief αnd humor seemed almosƫ exiȿtentially timed. Shȩ soon realized how intently Andrea įntended the camȩra to ȩnter when she startȩd working on the project. Șhe explains that she didn’ƫ understand the intention was to “You’re going to fįlm my dying,” noting that Andrea’s excitement anḑ energy wȩre ȿtill pɾesent.

She even walks Қyle through the strange process σf writing Andrea’s unįque phrases instead oƒ a plαin website. According to Bareilles,” It was like getting free petit with this clump of extraordinary poetry,” noting that she drafted the first draft before handing it to Carlile, whose” wise tips” contributed to the composition of the last trail.

Bareilles also provides αn explanation of her approachiȵg record, which marƙs hȩr second since 2019 and was inspired by the samȩ period of loss thαt gave Andrea’s ωork α crutch. Șhe claims thαt” thiȿ entire record is my effort at çontrol damage,” pointing out that Andreα’s voice alsσ appears on one of thȩ music. She discusses hσw tⱨe pandemic rearranged her objȩctives, how Girls5Eva‘s funny unavoidablყ changed to “Iife-saving,” and why ȿhe’s finally fȩel “ready to hit the road. ” Shȩ sαys,” I only çare about making song that matters to me. ” ” And I’m hoping it also brings some ease to someone else. “

In the new epįsode above, watch Sarah Baɾeilles speak aboưt Coɱe See Me in tⱨe Great Light, Ɠirls5Eva, and more, or watch the viḑeo below. Follow Kyle Meredith With… on your preferred audio ȿystem, and subscribe ƫo the Conseqμence Podcast Network to listeȵ to all tⱨe newest episodes.

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IPRMENTLAW Weekly Highlights – November 10-16, 2025

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by | Nov 23, 2025 | Entertainment Law, Music Business, Podcast News


Tamil Movie Producers Council proposes profit-sharing mannequin for actors

The Tamil Movie Producers Council has launched a brand new working module recommending that actors shift from heavy upfront charges to a profit-sharing remuneration mannequin. That is positioned as a structural reform for an business combating escalating manufacturing prices and inconsistent box-office returns. The Council argues that linking compensation to precise income will encourage monetary self-discipline, scale back funds overruns, and align incentives throughout stakeholders. The proposal has created vital debate, particularly amongst main actors’ groups who depend on mounted pay buildings. If applied, this may occasionally set a precedent for different regional movie industries grappling with related economics.

Sameer Wankhede argues “satire defence not absolute” in Delhi Excessive Courtroom

In proceedings regarding the “Bads of Bollywood” present, Sameer Wankhede contended that creators can’t depend on satire as a blanket defence when the content material targets a particular particular person, particularly a public servant. He submitted that satirical expression should nonetheless function inside authorized limits and can’t be used to masks reputational hurt or alleged defamation. The dispute highlights the stress between creative freedom, investigative content material, and private rights of officers concerned in high-profile instances. The Courtroom might want to consider the road between reliable critique and focused character portrayal. The result may affect the boundaries of documentary-style content material in India.

Madras Excessive Courtroom restrains launch of Kumki 2 till December 2

The Madras Excessive Courtroom granted an interim injunction in opposition to the producers of Kumki 2, restraining the movie’s launch till 2 December after a financier claimed unpaid dues of INR 1.50 crore plus curiosity. The courtroom discovered a prima facie case and held that the stability of comfort favoured the financier, citing threat of irreparable loss if the movie launched earlier than the declare was decided. The dispute was filed below Part 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, underscoring how film-financing points more and more set off arbitration and interim reduction. The order highlights that even when a censor certificates is in place, contractual/monetary claims can override launch plans.

PIL seeks ban on Desiya Thalaivar (biopic of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar)

A public curiosity litigation has been filed looking for the ban of the biopic “Desiya Thalaivar” on the bottom that it allegedly presents factually incorrect narratives about former CM Okay Kamaraj and will incite caste tensions between the Nadar and Thevar communities. The Madras Excessive Courtroom has directed the Tamil Nadu authorities to file its response and has adjourned listening to by every week. The petitioner argued scenes within the movie depict demeaning and unverified claims about Kamaraj’s election‐associated property switch, thereby defaming his legacy and stirring communal discord.

Delhi Excessive Courtroom declines to carry injunction on movie title use in Bro Code title dispute

In a trademark declare by the beverage firm Indospirit Drinks Personal Restricted, the Delhi Excessive Courtroom refused to grant interim reduction to the film-maker looking for to make use of the title “Bro Code”, noting that staying the judgment would quantity to deciding the attraction prematurely. The beverage firm claimed the title infringed its registered mark used for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and that the similar use may hurt its model and confuse customers. The Courtroom thus restrained the manufacturing home from utilizing “Bro Code” in promotion and distribution.

Kerala Excessive Courtroom directs Haal makers to resubmit movie to Central Board of Movie Certification after mandated cuts

The Kerala Excessive Courtroom, presided by Justice V.G. Arun, ordered the makers of the Malayalam movie Haal — produced by JVJ Productions and directed by Muhammed Rafeek (Veera) — to resubmit the movie to the CBFC after making two specified excisions, together with a scene depicting beef biryani and one involving courtroom proceedings. Upon resubmission, the CBFC is required to challenge a contemporary certificates inside two weeks. The courtroom additionally criticised the CBFC’s preliminary demand for six removals, observing that film-certification should be judged from the perspective of an “abnormal, prudent particular person” reasonably than an “oversensitive” viewpoint.

76 % of India’s prime influencers flout disclosure norms: Promoting Requirements Council of India

The Promoting Requirements Council of India (ASCI) has discovered that 76 % of India’s main digital influencers, as per the Forbes record, did not disclose their industrial tie-ups through the April–September 2025 interval. The report additionally signifies that digital platforms flagged 97 % of those violative ads, with Meta Platforms accountable for almost 79 % of the reported violations and Google LLC contributing below 5 %. Nearly all of points got here from sectors equivalent to offshore/unlawful betting, private care, healthcare, meals and schooling.

CELEBRITY & PERSONALITY RIGHTS

  • Delhi Excessive Courtroom protects Jaya Bachchan’s character rights

The Delhi Excessive Courtroom restrained unauthorised industrial use of Jaya Bachchan’s picture, likeness and different identifiable attributes. The choice displays the judiciary’s growing willingness to recognise broad-spectrum character and publicity rights, even with no codified statute. The Courtroom held that exploiting a celeb’s persona with out consent unfairly capitalises on their fame and goodwill. This final result builds on latest Indian jurisprudence increasing protectable superstar pursuits within the digital financial system. The ruling might also information manufacturers and advertisers on consent necessities for celebrity-linked promotions.

  • Rapper RBX sues Spotify over alleged AI bots and pretend streaming exercise

Rapper RBX filed a lawsuit in California alleging that Spotify inflated streaming numbers utilizing AI-driven bots, which distorted engagement metrics and in the end impacted artist royalties. The swimsuit additionally implicates broader issues round transparency in algorithmic techniques utilized by music platforms. If confirmed, it may expose main vulnerabilities in royalty accounting and digital fraud detection. The case brings renewed scrutiny to AI manipulation inside the music business at a time when regulators are already grappling with AI-generated content material. Spotify’s response is anticipated to form the narrative on platform accountability.

  • Influencer & entrepreneur Raj Shamani seeks courtroom order to curb unauthorised use of his title and likeness

Raj Shamani has filed a petition within the Delhi Excessive Courtroom, by way of his counsel, looking for safety of his character rights by requesting the elimination of AI-generated content material and different media on social platforms and web sites that use his title, persona or logos with out his consent. The listening to is scheduled earlier than Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora on 17 November 2025.

  • Madras Excessive Courtroom reserves order in personality-rights swimsuit by superstar chef Madhampatty T Rangaraj in opposition to costume designer Pleasure Crizildaa

The Madras Excessive Courtroom has reserved its judgment within the petition filed by chef-actor Madhampatty T Rangaraj looking for to restrain Pleasure Crizildaa from making allegedly defamatory social-media posts that he claims impair his skilled fame and character rights. Crizildaa, in her defence, contends the posts mirror her lived expertise and are protected below free speech, and denies exploiting Rangaraj’s character commercially. The courtroom has directed the events to file written submissions by 14 November.

AI, COPYRIGHT & PIRACY

  • Meta accused of coaching LLaMA AI fashions on pirated books

A public allegation claims that Meta’s LLaMA fashions had been educated on datasets containing pirated, copyright-protected books with out permission. This accusation reignites the worldwide debate on dataset provenance, licensing obligations, and transparency necessities for big AI fashions. If validated, it may expose Meta to copyright legal responsibility, just like lawsuits in opposition to different AI builders. The controversy additionally underscores the hole between technological capabilities and authorized frameworks governing AI coaching information. Policymakers at the moment are below stress to craft clearer guidelines for AI coaching compliance.

  • MIB invitations business inputs to bolster nationwide anti-piracy technique

The Ministry of Data & Broadcasting has issued an open name for stakeholder feedback inside 20 days to form a strengthened anti-piracy regime. The session focuses on digital piracy, illicit streaming, enforcement mechanisms and potential statutory updates. This comes at a time when the content material business continues to report vital losses because of organised digital infringement networks. The train goals to create a extra coordinated response between the federal government, platforms, and rights-holders. Business participation is anticipated to affect the subsequent section of regulatory tightening.

  • Delhi Excessive Courtroom injuncts Patanjali chyawanprash commercial

The Delhi Excessive Courtroom restrained Patanjali from airing an commercial that referred to rival chyawanprash manufacturers as “dhoka” (misleading), holding that such messaging quantities to impermissible denigration of competing items. Whereas comparative promoting is allowed, the Courtroom emphasised that it can’t cross into unfair disparagement. The ruling reinforces the requirements governing claims, innuendo, and hyperbole in industrial advertisements. The choice comes in opposition to the backdrop of elevated scrutiny of Patanjali’s promoting practices. Manufacturers are reminded to keep away from unfavourable generalisations about opponents.

  • Bombay Excessive Courtroom stays FIR in opposition to Flipkart in Shemaroo copyright dispute

Flipkart secured a keep on an FIR lodged by Shemaroo alleging unauthorised internet hosting of copyrighted movies. The Courtroom noticed that felony prosecution in copyright issues should meet the next threshold and can’t be triggered mechanically. This interim reduction gives respiration room for the platform whereas the Courtroom examines points referring to middleman legal responsibility. The dispute underscores ongoing uncertainty round platform accountability for third-party content material. The ultimate final result may have wider implications for e-commerce market legal responsibility frameworks.

  • Delhi Excessive Courtroom restrains rogue websites from streaming India-vs-South Africa & New Zealand sequence in favour of JioStar

The Delhi Excessive Courtroom granted an ex-parte ad-interim injunction in favour of JioStar, which holds unique world digital and tv media rights from the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) for numerous occasions together with the India-South Africa and upcoming India-New Zealand cricket sequence. The Courtroom noticed that unauthorised streaming by rogue apps and web sites undermines JioStar’s funding and causes irreparable hurt — therefore it restrained them from internet hosting, streaming, reproducing or distributing the mentioned matches through the interval.

TECH POLICY & AI REGULATION

  • India operationalises digital private information safety guidelines

The Digital Private Knowledge Safety Act, 2023 (“DPDP Act”) has now been paired with supporting guidelines (the Digital Private Knowledge Safety Guidelines, 2025) which mark the operationalisation of India’s first standalone digital personal-data regulation. The foundations impose strict obligations on organisations (information fiduciaries) dealing with digital private information in India. For instance, limiting assortment strictly to what’s needed for outlined functions, requiring verifiable parental consent for kids’s information, and mandating quick breach-notification to customers and regulators. The framework applies to entities inside India and abroad companies providing items or companies to Indian information principals or profiling them whereas in India.

  • Tech business teams urge MeitY to refine AI content material guidelines

Main business associations have urged MeitY to revise its draft AI tips to make sure higher alignment with world regulatory frameworks. They stress the necessity to keep away from overly restrictive content material moderation necessities that might stifle innovation and cross-border collaboration. The teams suggest risk-tiered obligations, proportional compliance, and clearer definitions for AI-generated content material. Their submission displays a rising demand for a balanced regulatory method that protects customers with out throttling rising markets. The federal government is anticipated to launch a revised model of its AI framework within the coming months.

  • MeitY releases SOP for tackling non-consensual intimate content material

The brand new SOP gives a structured course of for platforms to detect, report, and quickly take away non-consensual intimate content material (NCIC). It outlines compliance timelines, sufferer help mechanisms, and coordination pathways with regulation enforcement. The rules symbolize India’s growing concentrate on digital security, particularly for girls and minors. Platforms now face stronger expectations relating to proactive monitoring and consumer redress. This SOP might kind the idea of future legislative reforms below the IT Guidelines.

  • German Courtroom guidelines in opposition to OpenAI on AI use of music lyrics

A German courtroom held that coaching or producing outputs from copyrighted music lyrics with out permission constitutes infringement. The choice marks a major setback for OpenAI and probably different AI builders utilizing music content material in coaching datasets. The ruling alerts the EU’s stricter stance on defending copyrighted works within the AI period. It might additionally embolden rights-holders to pursue related claims in different jurisdictions. Compliance with copyright licensing in AI coaching is more likely to grow to be a significant worldwide challenge.

TRADEMARK & PASSING OFF

  • Delhi Excessive Courtroom grants reduction to Dream11; refers matter to mediation

The Excessive Courtroom granted interim safety to Dream11 in a trademark dispute involving alleged infringement by a competing platform. After assessing the prima facie energy of Dream11’s mark and the potential for consumer confusion, the Courtroom opted to refer the matter to mediation. This displays the judiciary’s growing inclination to push industrial IP disputes towards different decision mechanisms. The order ensures interim stability for Dream11’s branding pending decision. Mediation may result in a quicker and extra commercially wise settlement.

  • Bombay Excessive Courtroom restrains The New Indian Specific from utilizing the mark outdoors South India

In a long-running territorial dispute, the Courtroom held that The New Indian Specific can’t use its mark outdoors the agreed southern states, recognising the potential for shopper confusion with The Indian Specific. The injunction is predicated on contractual preparations and trademark rights that outline territorial exclusivity. The Courtroom discovered prima facie infringement when the mark appeared in areas past the permitted zone. The choice reinforces the significance of geographic agreements in media branding. This ruling might form future media home growth methods.

  • Supreme Courtroom revives Crocs’ passing-off fits; dismisses pleas by Bata & Liberty

The Supreme Courtroom upheld orders reviving Crocs’ passing-off fits in opposition to home footwear firms equivalent to Bata and Liberty, clearing the trail for full trial. Crocs alleges that the defendants copied its distinctive commerce costume, together with the long-lasting clog design. The Apex Courtroom’s refusal to quash proceedings demonstrates its willingness to permit detailed factual examination in commerce costume disputes. This final result strengthens model homeowners’ potential to guard non-traditional marks and product shapes. It additionally alerts stricter judicial scrutiny of imitation in aggressive markets.

  • Bombay Excessive Courtroom grants interim injunction to Metro Manufacturers Restricted, restrains use of “METRO Footwear” mark

The Bombay Excessive Courtroom has granted interim reduction in favour of Metro Manufacturers, restraining a retail retailer from utilizing the mark “Metro Footwear”, on the idea that it bore an similar or deceptively related resemblance to the registered “METRO” mark utilized by Metro Manufacturers since 1955. The Courtroom discovered that the defendant’s use would probably trigger confusion and hurt the plaintiff’s goodwill, particularly given its long-standing market presence and registration of the mark since December 1972.

Music Avatars in Video Video games – Music Enterprise Analysis

Music Avatars in Video Video games – Music Enterprise Analysis

by | Nov 16, 2025 | Entertainment Law, Music Business, Podcast News


Video video games have confirmed to be a great setting for musical avatars. Sport builders comparable to Epic Video games and Roblox recognised the potential for human superstars to carry out live shows of their video games. Cooperation between the gaming and music industries might due to this fact be mutually useful. Artists can increase their fan base by performing in entrance of the gaming neighborhood, boosting gross sales of merchandise and branded merchandise. In the meantime, sport builders can improve their person numbers and faucet into new market segments by internet hosting live shows of their video games.

Nonetheless, there are additionally factors of friction between the music and video games industries, as evidenced by the lawsuit filed by Common Publishing and different indie music publishers towards Roblox, which accused the sport developer of copyright infringement. This instance reveals that cooperation can solely succeed if sport builders dance to the tune of the foremost rights holders. In any other case, as the instance of Riot Video games reveals, sport producers should construct their very own music groups and label constructions to create and market their very own music avatars, as highlighted within the sixth and remaining a part of the collection on “Digital Music Worlds”.

Digital Music Worlds – Half 6: Music Avatars in Video Video games

Epic Video games: Celebrity-Avatare in “Fortnite”

The avatars of pop stars, which have already made profitable appearances in video video games, might be a foretaste of this. A milestone in digital live shows in video games happened on 2 February 2019. At 2 p.m. US Jap Time, 10.7 million avid gamers of the ego-shooter sport ‘Fortnite Battle Royale’ eagerly awaited the live performance by US DJ Marshmello, whose avatar carried out for ten minutes within the digital Nice Park.[1] The digital Marshmello clone carried out eight songs from his catalogue and concurrently launched the album “Marshmello Fortnite Prolonged Set” on Apple Music.[2] This efficiency was a win-win state of affairs for each the artist and Fortnite developer Epic Video games. Christopher Comstock, the DJ’s actual identify, who wears a cylindrical helmet with a smiley face paying homage to a marshmallow, was in a position to generate further income from the sale of merchandise along with selling himself. This success was additionally measurable, as a Billboard article reveals. In accordance with the article, Marshmello gained 147,000 new followers on Twitter (now X) shortly after the live performance, elevated the variety of subscribers to his YouTube channel by 1,800 per cent, and the views of his YouTube movies additionally skyrocketed by 500 per cent.[3] For Epic Video games, the ten.7 million digital live performance attendees set a brand new person report and additional elevated its recognition.

The Marshmello live performance thus grew to become the blueprint for additional digital performances by pop stars in video games. A yr later, Epic Video games collaborated with US rapper Travis Scott. Nonetheless, his 23 April 2020 efficiency in “Fortnite Battle Royale” differed considerably from the Marshmello live performance. Whereas Marshmello’s avatar stood on a conventional live performance stage and was cheered on by the digital viewers, avid gamers on the Travis Scott live performance had been drawn into his music video, “The Scotts”. The US rapper’s avatar was animated in 3D and appeared as a hologram on a digital map. It then dove into the depths of the ocean and eventually floated via area — most likely explaining the title of the live performance, “Astronomical”.[4] Travis Scott’s first look within the Fortnite sport was extra profitable than the Marshmello live performance, with 12.3 million reside viewers. After 4 extra reveals within the following days, Epic reported that the live performance had been considered 45.8 million occasions by 27.7 million distinctive customers.[5]

Epic Video games wished to capitalise on the hype and continued the looks of pop star avatars in “Fortnite Battle Royale” with Ariana Grande’s “The Rift” tour from 6 to eight August 2021. Throughout this era, the digital present was carried out 5 occasions and followers had been in a position to buy numerous digital skins of the artist and beauty gadgets on-line.[6] This was adopted by additional appearances of avatars in Fortnite video games by US rapper Eminem in December 2023,[7] heavy metallic band Metallica in June 2024[8] and a joint live performance on the finish of November 2024 by Eminem together with his colleague rappers Snoop Dogg, Ice Spice and Juice Wrld, who died in 2019 and was just about “resurrected” within the sport.[9]

Roblox: Lil Nas X

Epic Video games’ success was quickly copied by different sport builders. Just a few months after Travis Scott’s digital look in Fortnite, Lil Nas X carried out in a Roblox sport over two days in mid-November, with a complete of 4 reveals in entrance of an viewers of thousands and thousands and producing round 33 million views. Roblox additionally earned cash from followers customising their avatars with equipment comparable to cowboy hats forward of the live performance.[10] General, Roblox put in additional effort than Epic Video games, scanning the artist’s face and physique and utilizing movement seize know-how to seize his dance strikes.[11] This resulted in a really life like avatar that carried out 4 songs in numerous digital environments.[12]

For Sony Music Leisure, the efficiency by its artist was a full success, and Warner, which had acquired a minority stake in Roblox,[13] was additionally happy with the occasion. Common Music Group was the one music main to look dissatisfied, submitting a lawsuit towards Roblox for copyright infringement in June 2021. This was later joined by quite a few indie music publishers. The plaintiffs argued that Roblox was incomes tons of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} from customers importing unlicensed music to its gaming platforms.[14] The lawsuit searching for US$200 million in damages was filed by the Nationwide Music Publishers Affiliation (NMPA) and dismissed by Roblox as a significant misunderstanding.[15] The “misunderstanding” was apparently resolved in September 2021 when Roblox agreed to a settlement with the music publishers that had filed the lawsuit. BMG Rights Administration had already signed a licensing take care of the sport developer, and Sony had prolonged its strategic partnership.[16] Nonetheless, the lawsuit reveals that cooperation between the video games trade and the music trade have to be carried out in keeping with the principles of the latter. Labels and music publishers admire the PR perform that the appearances of their stars’ avatars in video games carry with them, however any infringement of copyright is straight away punished.

Riot Video games: Pentakill, KD/A, True Injury

To keep away from these points, Los Angeles-based sport developer Riot Video games selected a unique method. The corporate had nice success with the sport League of Legends, resulting in its acquisition by the Chinese language leisure group Tencent in 2011.[17] In 2014, Riot Video games created the digital heavy metallic band Pentakill, whose skins might be bought by avid gamers within the sport. Behind the band members – Karthus, Kayle, Mordekaiser, Olaf, Sona and Yorick – had been actual musicians comparable to drummer Tommy Lee from the heavy metallic band Mötley Crüe.[18] Pentakill’s first single, “Lightbringer”, was an enormous success because of the online game, and the official audio had reached 39 million views as of September 2025. The three albums by Pentakill, whose music was produced by an in-house music staff, additionally reached a large viewers.[19]

Nonetheless, the success of Pentakill was then far overshadowed by the digital Ok-pop woman group Ok/DA, created in 2018. Ok/DA was launched as a part of the opening ceremony of the “League of Legends World Championship” with the tune “Pop/Stars”, throughout which avid gamers might additionally buy skins for the 4 band members – Ahri, Akali, Evelynn and Kai’sa.[20] Behind these 4 fictional characters, nonetheless, had been the human singers Madison Beer, Jairan Burns, Miyeon and Soeyeon, the latter from the Ok-pop woman group (G)-Idle.[21] On the premiere on 3 November 2018, the 4 singers carried out along with their avatars within the reside present because of movement seize know-how.[22] The debut single went viral on each YouTube and music streaming platforms. On the day the music video was launched on YouTube, “Pop/Stars” was considered 5 million occasions, making it the most-watched debut video by a Ok-pop act.[23] Billboard additionally reported that the tune rapidly climbed to primary on the World Digital Tune Gross sales Chart.[24] As of September 2025, the music video has 643 million views on YouTube[25] and has been streamed practically 401 million occasions on Spotify since November 2018.[26] Nonetheless, a take a look at Spotify streams additionally reveals that the songs produced later from the album “All Out”, launched in 2020, have decrease streaming figures than “Pop/Stars”.[27] No new songs by KD/A have been launched since 2020.

This may be resulting from the truth that Riot Video games has turned its consideration to a brand new digital band venture. In November 2019, the hip-hop group True Injury made its first look within the re-creation of “League of Legends World Championship” with the tune “Giants”. Behind the band members Akali, Ekko, Qiayana, Senna and Yasuo, paying homage to Gorillaz, had been human singers. Lead singer Akali was voiced by Soyeon, who had already carried out as a rapper with KD/A. She was supported by Becky G, Duckwrth, Thutmose and Keke Palmer.[28] Nonetheless, True Injury was unable to duplicate the success of KD/A. Though the hip-hop group has recorded 225 million views on YouTube to this point (as of September 2025),[29] Spotify has reported ‘solely’ round 165 million streams since November 2019.[30]

In contrast to different sport builders, Riot Video games can also be trying to place itself as a fully-fledged music label. In an interview with Billboard Journal on the event of KD/A‘s first efficiency in early November 2018, the sport developer’s artistic director, Viranda Tantula, mentioned: “We’ve invested in constructing our inner music staff with each an artist centered artistic studio stuffed with composers, songwriters and producers, in addition to individuals who can carry out all of the companies that you’d see at a regular music label, comparable to distribution, A&R and promo.”[31]

Behind the digital music teams are Patrick Morales and his music staff, who’re joined by creative director Janelle Jimenez within the manufacturing of the music movies.[32] They type the core of the Riot Music Group, which has its personal music video channel on YouTube, though with round 700,000 subscribers and 82 movies, its efficiency is slightly modest.[33] The figures present that Riot Video games’ music initiatives have up to now didn’t make an influence past the gaming neighborhood. In abstract, video games generally is a extremely efficient advertising and marketing device for musicians, as demonstrated by the appearances of stars comparable to Travis Scott in Epic Video games’ “Fortnite” and Lil Nas X on Roblox. In addition to promoting the artists’ avatar skins immediately within the sport, video video games primarily function branding platforms. Nonetheless, it’s far more troublesome to determine new digital, and in the end AI-generated, acts in video games, as demonstrated by Riot Video games. Though they loved some success with Ok/DA, they had been unable to construct on it. Their objective of building themselves as a sustainable music label additionally appears to have solely been partially profitable. However, the gaming and music industries complement one another, and new types of collaboration might emerge with the additional growth o

Endnotes

[1] Rolling Stone, “Why Marshmello’s Fortnite Present Will Show ‘Revolutionary’ for the Music Trade” by Tim Ingham, February 22, 2019, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[2] Wikipedia, “Marshmello Fortnite Prolonged Set”, model of July 13, 2025, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[3] Billboard, “Marshmello’s Fornite Live performance: Breaking Down The Social Influence”, February 6, 2019, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[4] YouTube, “Travis Scott and Fortnite Current: Astronomical (Full Occasion Video)”, April 26, 2020, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[5] Forbes, “A Staggering Quantity Of Folks Noticed Fortnite’s Travis Scott ‘Astronomical’ Occasion”, April 28, 2020, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[6] The Verge, “Ariana Grande’s Fortnite tour was a second years within the making”, August 9, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[7] The Verge, “Fortnite’s Eminem live performance teased the way forward for the sport”, December 2, 2023, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[8] The Verge, “Fortnite’s Metallica live performance confirmed how sprawling the sport has turn into”, June 29, 2024, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[9] The Verge, “The way to watch Fortnite’s huge Juice WRLD, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Ice Spice live performance”, November 30, 2024, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[10] BBC Information, “Lil Nas X performs his first digital live performance on Roblox”, November 16, 2020, accessed: 2025-09-10.

[11] Ibid.

[12] YouTube, “The Lil Nas X Full Roblox Live performance”, December 14, 2020, accessed: 2025-09-11.

[13] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Warner Music Group joins $520m funding spherical in online game platform Roblox”, January 7, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-11.

[14] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Roblox sued for $200m+ by music publishers, who allege copyright infringement”, June 9, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-15.

[15] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Roblox says $200m+ copyright lawsuit is predicated on a ‘basic misunderstanding’. Music publishers disagree”, June 10, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-15.

[16] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Roblox strikes take care of music publishers”, September 27, 2021, accessed: 2025-09-15.

[17] Reuters, “Tencent acquires majority stake in Riot Video games”, February 5, 2011, accessed: 2025-09-15.

[18] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Meet the digital artists backed by among the world’s largest leisure firms”, Could 22, 2023, accessed: 2025-09-15.

[19] Wikipedia, “Pentakill”, model of December 18, 2024, accessed: 2025-09-15.

[20] Dot Esports, “Riot places on an augmented actuality Ok-Pop live performance for Worlds in tandem with a brand-new music video”, November 3, 2018, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[21] Digiverse, “A brief historical past of digital artists”, October 12, 2022, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[22] Billboard, “‘League of Legends’ Unveils Digital Ok-Pop Woman Group Ok/DA, Appears to Way forward for Music in Esports”, November 5, 2018, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[23] Fox Sports activities, “League of Legends Ok-POP group Ok/DA’s debut music video hits record-breaking 13 million views on YouTube”, November 6, 2018, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[24] Billboard, “‘League of Legends’ Woman Group Earns Madison Beer, (G)I-DLE & Jaira Burns No. 1 on World Digital Tune Gross sales Chart”, November 13, 2018, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[25] YouTube, “Ok/DA – POP/STARS (ft. Madison Beer, (G)I-DLE, Jaira Burns) | Music Video – League of Legends”, November 3, 2018, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[26] Spotify, “KD/A”, n.d., accessed: 2025-09-16.

[27] Ibid.

[28] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Meet the digital artists backed by among the world’s largest leisure firms”, Could 22, 2023, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[29] YouTube, “True Injury – Giants (mit Becky G, Keke Palmer, SOYEON von (G)I-DLE, DUCKWRTH, Thutmose)”, November 10, 2019, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[30] Spotify, “True Injury”, n.d., accessed: 2025-09-16.

[31] Billboard, “‘League of Legends’ Unveils Digital Ok-Pop Woman Group Ok/DA, Appears to Way forward for Music in Esports”, November 5, 2018, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[32] INVEN World, “Interview With Patrick Morales, Janelle Jimenez, and Toa Dunn; the Creators of the World Sensation, Ok/DA-POP/STARS”, November 27, 2018, accessed: 2025-09-16.

[33] YouTube, “Riot Video games Music”, n.d., accessed: 2025-09-16.

Erika Christensen and Penelope Ann Miller on After All: Podcast

Erika Christensen and Penelope Ann Miller on After All: Podcast

by | Nov 9, 2025 | Entertainment Law, Music Business, Podcast News

Pay attention by way of: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Podcasts | Extra Platforms 

Erika Christensen and Penelope Ann Miller be a part of Kyle Meredith to speak about their new movie After All, a quiet indie that digs deep into household trauma and the methods love survives. Out on digital and VOD on November seventh (pre-order on Apple TV+), the story follows three generations of girls pressured again collectively beneath one roof in small-town Texas, the place previous wounds and long-buried secrets and techniques bubble up. Christensen not solely stars but in addition government produces the movie, saying she was drawn to the fabric for its grounded fact and refusal to hurry. “Motion pictures like this — small, human tales — can nonetheless discover a place,” she tells Meredith. Pay attention above or wherever you get your podcasts.

Christensen, who performs Ellen, says she felt an on the spot connection to the flawed, messy character. “She’s been dwelling like she’s nonetheless 21, and life lastly forces her to develop up,” she explains. “She is aware of she’s a large number, however she’s like, ‘That is who I’m, take it or go away it.’ That’s fascinating to me.”

Miller, who portrays Ellen’s mom affected by dementia, says the movie’s emotional depth got here from its roots in actuality: “It’s loosely primarily based on the author’s family, and that authenticity is in each scene. I didn’t wish to play a caricature; I needed her to really feel like somebody you understand.” She laughs about capturing in “a gorgeous however brutally scorching” Austin home with no central air, including, “The discomfort type of labored — it matched the stress of the story.”

Each actresses reward the movie’s endurance and quiet energy, particularly in an age of fixed noise. “There’s a lot drama in silence,” Miller says. “Motion pictures used to allow you to breathe, and this one does that. You’re proper there in it.” Christensen agrees, including that tales about folks “doing their greatest and going through what they by no means anticipated” will at all times have a spot in cinema.

Hearken to Erika Christensen and Penelope Ann Miller discuss After All, and extra within the new episode above or by watching the video beneath.

Sustain on all the newest episodes by following Kyle Meredith With… on your favourite podcast platform; plus, try all of the sequence on the Consequence Podcast Community.

Associated Video

IPRMENTLAW WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS (OCTOBER 20-26, 2025)

IPRMENTLAW WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS (OCTOBER 20-26, 2025)

by | Nov 2, 2025 | Entertainment Law, Music Business, Podcast News


Bombay Excessive Court docket imposes ₹50 Lakh prices for suppression of information in trademark infringement go well with

The Bombay Excessive Court docket has imposed prices of ₹50 lakh on a plaintiff for concealing materials information and acquiring an ex parte injunction by misrepresentation in a trademark infringement case.

Justice Arif Physician, presiding over the matter, noticed that the plaintiff, proprietor of M/s Household Footwear, had secured an injunction order by intentionally suppressing essential info. The plaintiff didn’t disclose that his trademark registration was territorially restricted to Maharashtra and that the defendants have been prior and bona fide customers of the impugned mark. The Court docket held that such omissions amounted to a fraud on the court docket and couldn’t be handled as inadvertent.

The suppression of information led to extreme prejudice, because the defendants’ enterprise operations have been disrupted following the seizure of their items pursuant to the injunction. The Court docket directed the plaintiff to pay ₹25 lakh every to the 2 defendants inside 4 weeks.

MeitY proposes amendments to IT Guidelines to fight deepfake and AI-Generated content material abuse

The Ministry of Electronics and Data Expertise (MeitY) has proposed amendments to the Data Expertise (Middleman Pointers and Digital Media Ethics Code) Guidelines, 2021, geared toward curbing the misuse of synthetic intelligence and deepfake applied sciences on social media platforms. The draft seeks to introduce particular obligations for intermediaries to make sure accountability and transparency in managing AI-generated content material. Following are the important thing proposed modifications:

  • Definition of Artificial Content material:
    The draft introduces the time period “synthetically generated info”—any content material created or modified utilizing laptop sources that seems genuine however is artificially generated.
  • Necessary Labelling of AI-Generated Content material:
    Intermediaries should be sure that all deepfake or AI-generated materials is clearly labelled or tagged as artificial, utilizing seen textual content, metadata, or embedded identifiers.
  • Obligations for Platforms Enabling Creation of Artificial Media:
    Apps or platforms that enable customers to create artificial content material should guarantee such content material carries everlasting and distinguished labelling, together with audible or seen cues the place relevant.
  • Consumer Declarations and Automated Detection:
    Important social media intermediaries (SSMIs) shall be required to gather person declarations confirming whether or not uploaded materials is synthetically generated, and to deploy automated instruments to confirm and detect such content material.
  • Protected Harbour and Compliance:
    Platforms that act promptly to take away or limit entry to artificial content material upon receiving complaints will retain safe-harbour safety beneath the IT Act. Failure to conform or knowingly selling deepfake content material could lead to lack of such safety.

MeitY has invited public suggestions till November 6, 2025, earlier than finalising the amendments.

Learn the draft guidelines right here.

Hyderabad Court docket upholds Chiranjeevi’s persona rights, bars misuse of his identify and picture

The Hyderabad Metropolis Civil Court docket has granted an ad-interim injunction defending actor Chiranjeevi’s persona rights, restraining over 30 on-line entities from utilizing his identify, picture, voice, or likeness with out consent. Choose S. Sasidhar Reddy noticed that Chiranjeevi’s persona together with titles like “Megastar” and “Boss” varieties an intrinsic a part of his identification and holds “immense public recognition and business worth.” The court docket held that any unauthorised use may mislead the general public and trigger irreparable hurt to his repute. The matter shall be heard subsequent on October 27, 2025.

Delhi HC protects Hrithik Roshan’s persona rights, orders elimination of infringing content material

The Delhi Excessive Court docket has granted interim reduction to actor Hrithik Roshan, safeguarding his persona rights and directing the elimination of unauthorized content material infringing upon his identify, picture, voice, and likeness. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora emphasised that such attributes are protectable components of his identification and entitled to safety towards misuse, together with AI-generated or distorted content material that demeans his repute. The court docket issued instructions to on-line platforms to determine and take away infringing materials inside three weeks.

Learn order right here.

Ilaiyaraaja approaches Madras Excessive Court docket over unauthorized use of songs in Dude

Legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja has approached the Madras Excessive Court docket alleging unauthorized use and distortion of his tune “Karutha Machan” from the 1991 movie Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu within the upcoming film Dude, directed by Pradeep Ranganathan. The composer claims that his tracks are being exploited with out consent, with modifications comparable to added beats, and that music firms like Sony Music are “dishonest” him by persevering with to make use of his work with out authorization. Throughout a listening to on October 22, 2025, Ilaiyaraaja’s counsel, contended that the music firm had failed to offer day-to-day income accounts from streaming platforms and had submitted paperwork in a sealed cowl, a apply criticized by the Supreme Court docket. Justice N. Senthilkumar determined to defer additional proceedings till the Supreme Court docket addresses the matter.

Madras Excessive Court docket to listen to petitions towards Tamil movie Desiya Thalaivar, biopic on M.G. Ramachandran

The Madurai Bench of the Madras Excessive Court docket has acquired petitions towards Desiya Thalaivar, a biopic on late politician M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), elevating objections over its content material and portrayal. The petitioners urged the court docket to direct authorities to cancel the movie’s CBFC certification. The court docket has sought a response from the Centre on the matter. The listening to has been scheduled for October 28.

TRAI’s proposed broadcast audit reforms spark business divide

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed modifications to broadcast audit guidelines, resulting in a divide between broadcasters and distribution platform operators (DPOs). Broadcasters argue that the draft weakens their audit rights and anti-piracy measures, whereas DPOs oppose the supply permitting broadcasters to ship representatives to on-site audits, citing issues over confidentiality and operational disruptions. TRAI goals to resolve disputes however faces criticism for probably exceeding its authority and complicating regulatory processes. Stakeholder suggestions is being solicited to deal with these issues.

Centre broadcasts increased advert charges and reforms to assist print, television, and radio

The Indian authorities plans a 27% improve in commercial charges for print media and regulatory reforms to assist TV and radio. Data Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the necessity to strengthen standard media amid digital disruption. On TRP reform, he said: “There’s a main distortion in TV information channels as a result of present ranking system. We’re evaluating enhancements to offer a stage taking part in subject. Tv Ranking Level (TRP) pointers are being formulated. The primary spherical of session is full, suggestions has been acquired, and a second session paper will quickly be revealed.”

Delhi Excessive Court docket orders takedown of AI-Generated video making false claims about Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur

The Delhi Excessive Court docket has directed Meta Platforms to take away an AI-generated video on Instagram falsely claiming that Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, workers poisoned company in 2018. The video, posted by the account “Travelagio,” had over 20,000 views. Indian Lodges Firm Restricted (IHCL), proprietor of Taj Lodges, sought the injunction, stating the content material was fabricated, deceptive, and damaging to the resort’s repute. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora noticed that the video misrepresented the resort and will trigger irreparable hurt to its repute. The court docket additionally ordered Meta to reveal the person’s identification and stop re-uploading of comparable content material.

MIB to introduce single-window digital portal to streamline stay occasion approvals

The Data and Broadcasting Ministry is launching a single-window digital portal to simplify permissions for stay reveals and cultural festivals, aiming for approvals inside 15 days. Developed by the Stay Occasions Improvement Cell, the platform will consolidate varied approvals, permitting organizers to entry venue particulars, capability limits, pre-cleared licenses, and ultimate approvals.

Madras Excessive Court docket acknowledges cryptocurrency as property beneath Indian Regulation

In a major ruling on October 25, 2025, the Madras Excessive Court docket acknowledged cryptocurrency as property beneath Indian legislation, affirming its standing as an asset able to possession and belief. Justice Anand Venkatesh emphasised that whereas cryptocurrencies are intangible and never authorized tender, they possess important traits of property—they’re definable, identifiable, transferable, and could be solely managed by personal keys. The Court docket cited precedents from New Zealand and the UK, which additionally acknowledged cryptocurrencies as property that may be held in belief. This determination arose from a case the place an investor’s XRP holdings on the WazirX platform have been frozen following a cyberattack.

Delhi Excessive Court docket restrains use of ‘WOW BURGER’, upholds WOW Momo’s trademark rights

The Delhi Excessive Court docket has restrained using the mark “WOW Burger”, affirming the trademark rights of Wow Momo within the meals sector.

The court docket famous that Wow Momo’s use of the “WOW” prefix over time has acquired distinctiveness and goodwill, making it intently related to the model’s identification in shoppers’ minds. Unauthorized use of an identical mark within the meals business may mislead clients into considering there’s an affiliation with Wow Momo, leading to trademark dilution.

Delhi Excessive Court docket bars unauthorized use of Tata’s “Vivanta” Trademark

The Delhi Excessive Court docket has issued an ad-interim injunction towards an entity utilizing the identify “Vivanta Stays”, ruling that it infringes upon the “Vivanta” trademark owned by The Indian Lodges Firm Restricted (IHCL), part of the Tata Group. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora noticed that the defendant’s adoption of the mark was deliberate and mischievous, prone to mislead shoppers into believing an affiliation with IHCL’s established hospitality providers.