Eriq Gardner
@eriqgardner.bsky.social
Founding Partner and National Correspondent, Puck. I mostly write and speak about legal affairs. Northwestern U grad. L.A. Rams fan. Music obsessive. Signal: EriqG.99
On the A.I. copyright front, news publishers have just beaten back a motion to dismiss. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Order on Motion to Dismiss – #59 in Advance Local Media LLC v. Cohere Inc. (S.D.N.Y., 1:25-cv-01305) – CourtListener.com
Order on Motion to Dismiss
storage.courtlistener.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:31 PM
On the A.I. copyright front, news publishers have just beaten back a motion to dismiss. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Why is Michael Jackson’s probate case still open 16 years after his death? And how has it come to include underwriting film reshoots and brokering deals with abuse accusers? I explore… puck.news/why-is-micha...
The Michael Jackson Probate Mystery
More than 15 years after he died with millions in debt, Michael Jackson’s estate has experienced a remarkable turnaround. But why is a multibillion-dollar business being administered out of a corner o...
puck.news
November 12, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Why is Michael Jackson’s probate case still open 16 years after his death? And how has it come to include underwriting film reshoots and brokering deals with abuse accusers? I explore… puck.news/why-is-micha...
What do you think he’ll say puck.news/josh-shapiro...
November 7, 2025 at 1:21 AM
What do you think he’ll say puck.news/josh-shapiro...
Write me a 200 word horror story about Tom Brady and his cloned dog.
November 5, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Write me a 200 word horror story about Tom Brady and his cloned dog.
Netflix’s A.I. memo is a little too on the nose. Meryl Streep’s to be specific.
Plus: What Irving Azoff told me about UMG’s Udio deal.
puck.news/netflix-ai-m...
Plus: What Irving Azoff told me about UMG’s Udio deal.
puck.news/netflix-ai-m...
Netflix Writes Its A.I. Culture Memo
Netflix tells partners how to use A.I. responsibly while studios battle Midjourney in court. Why Hollywood’s “age of innocence” with A.I. has ended.
puck.news
November 4, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Netflix’s A.I. memo is a little too on the nose. Meryl Streep’s to be specific.
Plus: What Irving Azoff told me about UMG’s Udio deal.
puck.news/netflix-ai-m...
Plus: What Irving Azoff told me about UMG’s Udio deal.
puck.news/netflix-ai-m...
The government shutdown isn’t bad for everyone. puck.news/can-comcast-...
Iger’s Shutdown Timing & Roberts’s WBD Opening
How the government shutdown might benefit Disney’s ability to close its Fubo deal, and why Comcast still has options to circumnavigate Trump’s perceived veto power on the WBD deal.
puck.news
October 29, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The government shutdown isn’t bad for everyone. puck.news/can-comcast-...
I learned a lot about the MrBeast empire from this case… puck.news/mrbeasts-emp...
MrBeast’s $100M Day in Court
The yearslong legal feud between YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson and restaurateur Robert Earl is headed back to court this week, with Donaldson arguing that he’s defending his brand and personal integrity—an...
puck.news
October 21, 2025 at 11:43 PM
I learned a lot about the MrBeast empire from this case… puck.news/mrbeasts-emp...
What’s next to in the A.I. copyright wars? Let me take a gander. puck.news/the-next-hol...
After Sora 2: New Fronts in the A.I. Legal Wars
One area of the law likely to draw more fire is the messy question of who has legal standing to object to A.I. outputs—an issue inflamed, of course, by OpenAI’s unveiling of Sora 2, which sent Hollywo...
puck.news
October 15, 2025 at 1:00 AM
What’s next to in the A.I. copyright wars? Let me take a gander. puck.news/the-next-hol...
I’ll tell you who is having fun with A.I. text-to-audio. Those who work to put stuff on screens at NFL games to get fans hyped.
October 12, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I’ll tell you who is having fun with A.I. text-to-audio. Those who work to put stuff on screens at NFL games to get fans hyped.
“A reasonable listener of ‘Not Like Us’ would conclude that Lamar is rapping hyperbolic vituperations.” —Judge Vargas
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:44 PM
“A reasonable listener of ‘Not Like Us’ would conclude that Lamar is rapping hyperbolic vituperations.” —Judge Vargas
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Dish, Disney & The $4.99 Lawsuit From Hell puck.news/disney-sues-...
Dish, Disney & The $4.99 Lawsuit From Hell
Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery are suing Dish over Sling TV’s “day passes,” reviving a decades-old grudge match just as ESPN launches its long-awaited stand-alone app—and the industry braces for mo...
puck.news
October 8, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Dish, Disney & The $4.99 Lawsuit From Hell puck.news/disney-sues-...
Lots of scoopage in the newsletter tonight including a new and potentially explosive child abuse allegation against Michael Jackson
October 8, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Lots of scoopage in the newsletter tonight including a new and potentially explosive child abuse allegation against Michael Jackson
Here’s a story recommendation. Really interesting one that covers protein bars, antitrust law, and more apple.news/AKsvME2sHSu6...
The Protein Bar King and the Battle for the Holy Grail of Fat Substitutes — Men’s Health
How the “secret sauce” in America’s hottest new brand of protein bars sparked a storm of controversy that has forced small businesses to the brink of death—and upended the protein bar market that many...
apple.news
October 5, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Here’s a story recommendation. Really interesting one that covers protein bars, antitrust law, and more apple.news/AKsvME2sHSu6...
Under-the-radar, upcoming Hollywood trials:
—Netflix’s “Inventing Anna” libel
—“Real Housewives” copyright problem
—Disney vs fired actor’s “religious” beliefs
puck.news/how-inventin...
—Netflix’s “Inventing Anna” libel
—“Real Housewives” copyright problem
—Disney vs fired actor’s “religious” beliefs
puck.news/how-inventin...
Netflix’s $15M ‘Inventing Anna’ Mistake
The streamer’s decision not to secure the life rights for one of the key players in the fake heiress saga could prove costly. Plus, news and notes on a $10 million ‘Housewives’ jingle battle and Disne...
puck.news
October 1, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Under-the-radar, upcoming Hollywood trials:
—Netflix’s “Inventing Anna” libel
—“Real Housewives” copyright problem
—Disney vs fired actor’s “religious” beliefs
puck.news/how-inventin...
—Netflix’s “Inventing Anna” libel
—“Real Housewives” copyright problem
—Disney vs fired actor’s “religious” beliefs
puck.news/how-inventin...
Reposted by Eriq Gardner
New pod: Who’s got the leverage in the next battles between Trump, the TV stations and Disney, and why Blue state attorneys general could play a surprising role. With @eriqgardner.bsky.social. Listen! open.spotify.com/episode/2dIV...
Kimmel Is Back, But Disney vs. Trump Is Just Beginning
open.spotify.com
September 25, 2025 at 1:12 AM
New pod: Who’s got the leverage in the next battles between Trump, the TV stations and Disney, and why Blue state attorneys general could play a surprising role. With @eriqgardner.bsky.social. Listen! open.spotify.com/episode/2dIV...
While FCC chairman Brendan Carr sucks up the oxygen, there’s another force lurking—a reason, perhaps, to think that Nexstar is making a colossal political miscalculation in the Jimmy Kimmel affair. My latest…. puck.news/brendan-carr...
The Miseducation of Brendan Carr
F.C.C. chairman Brendan Carr, who held up Shari Redstone’s Paramount sale and isn’t done antagonizing Disney over Jimmy Kimmel, has never seemed more emboldened. But a closer reading of the situation ...
puck.news
September 23, 2025 at 11:22 PM
While FCC chairman Brendan Carr sucks up the oxygen, there’s another force lurking—a reason, perhaps, to think that Nexstar is making a colossal political miscalculation in the Jimmy Kimmel affair. My latest…. puck.news/brendan-carr...
WSJ moves to dismiss Trump’s defamation lawsuit
September 22, 2025 at 8:39 PM
WSJ moves to dismiss Trump’s defamation lawsuit
Does American technology hegemony depend on Trump conscripting Spider-Man, Taylor Swift songs, and the Paw Patrol? Believe it or not, a former NSA general counsel is making the case the president should invoke the Defense Production Act.
puck.news/could-hollyw...
puck.news/could-hollyw...
Does Trump Need Spider-Man to Win the A.I. War?
A former N.S.A. general counsel has argued that the White House should declare a national emergency to seize Hollywood’s I.P. for an A.I. arms race with China. Is it a total fantasy or just a new norm...
puck.news
September 17, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Does American technology hegemony depend on Trump conscripting Spider-Man, Taylor Swift songs, and the Paw Patrol? Believe it or not, a former NSA general counsel is making the case the president should invoke the Defense Production Act.
puck.news/could-hollyw...
puck.news/could-hollyw...
We don’t agree to a Taylor Swift deposition but we’ve reserved October 20 for you
September 12, 2025 at 7:03 PM
We don’t agree to a Taylor Swift deposition but we’ve reserved October 20 for you
Lisa Cook and Shira Perlmutter. Not the greatest day for Trump’s attempted purges.
September 10, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Lisa Cook and Shira Perlmutter. Not the greatest day for Trump’s attempted purges.
This week in WIH+:
—Will the FCC review Rupert Murdoch's deal giving Lachlan the media empire?
—An upcoming, overlooked multi-billion dollar TikTok trial
—I use ChatGPT to crack the identities of a Hollywood lawsuit captioned "Doe Company v. Roe Company"
puck.news/newsletter_c...
—Will the FCC review Rupert Murdoch's deal giving Lachlan the media empire?
—An upcoming, overlooked multi-billion dollar TikTok trial
—I use ChatGPT to crack the identities of a Hollywood lawsuit captioned "Doe Company v. Roe Company"
puck.news/newsletter_c...
WIH+: Murdoch Trust Issues, Zaz’s A.I. Beef & TikTok’s Other Existential Threat
Sep 9, 2025 Matthew Belloni Welcome back to What I’m Hearing+, winner of the coveted WIH Audience Award. I’m still in Toronto for the festival (Canada: still great), and Eriq Gardner is back tonight w...
puck.news
September 10, 2025 at 1:52 PM
This week in WIH+:
—Will the FCC review Rupert Murdoch's deal giving Lachlan the media empire?
—An upcoming, overlooked multi-billion dollar TikTok trial
—I use ChatGPT to crack the identities of a Hollywood lawsuit captioned "Doe Company v. Roe Company"
puck.news/newsletter_c...
—Will the FCC review Rupert Murdoch's deal giving Lachlan the media empire?
—An upcoming, overlooked multi-billion dollar TikTok trial
—I use ChatGPT to crack the identities of a Hollywood lawsuit captioned "Doe Company v. Roe Company"
puck.news/newsletter_c...
RedZone is terribly overrated even without commercials
“Seven hours of commercial-free football starts now!”
Not so fast …
“NFL RedZone” host Scott Hanson confirmed during an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show” that RedZone will feature commercials in some capacity.
Why now? @richarddeitsch.bsky.social explains ⤵️
Not so fast …
“NFL RedZone” host Scott Hanson confirmed during an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show” that RedZone will feature commercials in some capacity.
Why now? @richarddeitsch.bsky.social explains ⤵️
NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson confirms broadcast will feature commercials this season
Hanson's sign-on will be noticeably different this coming Sunda
www.nytimes.com
September 3, 2025 at 10:44 PM
RedZone is terribly overrated even without commercials
I have a lot of trouble following the logic here
September 3, 2025 at 10:42 PM
I have a lot of trouble following the logic here
Almost like an annual tradition that just before NFL season begins, feds make a show of shutting down a big illegal sports streaming site. (Tough, though, because there are a ton of mirror sites.)
From @TheAthletic: Streameast — the world’s largest illegal sports streaming platform — has been shut down after a year-long investigation, according to a leading United States-based anti-piracy organisation.
Streameast, world’s largest illegal sports streaming platform, shut down in sting
The network of 80 unauthorised domains generated 1.6billion combined visits over the last year.
nyti.ms
September 3, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Almost like an annual tradition that just before NFL season begins, feds make a show of shutting down a big illegal sports streaming site. (Tough, though, because there are a ton of mirror sites.)
The guy took $55 million from Netflix and blew chunks of it on Rolls-Royces, real estate, speculative crypto bets, and even divorce lawyers. But, as I write, the fraud case isn’t quite straightforward. puck.news/legal-anatom...
Netflix’s Accidental Elizabeth Holmes
Is Carl Rinsch, the erratic auteur behind a big-budget unfinished Netflix series, a calculating grifter who should spend 90 years in prison, or is he merely a cautionary tale?
puck.news
September 3, 2025 at 1:12 AM
The guy took $55 million from Netflix and blew chunks of it on Rolls-Royces, real estate, speculative crypto bets, and even divorce lawyers. But, as I write, the fraud case isn’t quite straightforward. puck.news/legal-anatom...