Eriq Gardner
Puck legal/rights correspondent; covers IP/licensing, residuals, entertainment litigation, and deal structures impacting media/music.
Kessler's Live Nation Deal Includes Lucrative Success Fee
An exclusive: I got ahold of Jeffrey Kessler’s fee arrangement for the Live Nation case—which includes a “success fee” that will be lucrative… https://puck.news/how-ticketmasters-legal-nemesis-will-make-millions/
AI Actors Spark Unprecedented Trademark Lawsuit Over Synthetic Characters
A look at SAG-AFTRA’s “synthetic” deal And the most 2026 lawsuit you’ll read all year: a French talent agency for brainrot characters, a Roblox megahit, and a legal theory that tries to make trademark law do what copyright won’t. https://puck.news/sag-aftras-ai-deal-opens-door-to-synthetic-actors/
Trump Could Lose Right to File Defamation Suits
My latest unveils the soon-to-be-tested legal theory that Trump may have to give up one of his favorite pastimes—bringing defamation suits. Also: why isn’t anyone talking about Gavin Newsom’s lawsuit? https://puck.news/if-trump-cant-be-sued-as-potus-why-can-he-sue-others/
Netflix Aggressively Pushes Into Paramount‑Warner Merger Review
I hear that Netflix has been meddling in the regulatory review of Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery. “Frankly, I am surprised at how aggressive they’ve been with me,” a senior government official tells me. https://puck.news/is-netflix-meddling-in-the-warnermount-deal/
Trump's NFL Antitrust Push Likely Backfires via Streamers
Rethinking the NFL antitrust freakout: the streamers are in it, the real battlefield isn’t the FCC, and Trump’s enforcers will likely talk tough before blinking. My latest. https://puck.news/how-trumps-anti-nfl-crusade-could-backfire/
AI NFL Referees Ignite Election‑season Labor Controversy
I can see A.I.-assisted NFL officiating turning into a big brouhaha right in the midst of election season. I spell out the scenario here… https://puck.news/the-nfls-ai-referee-plan-has-a-labor-problem/
CAA Faces Trial Over Alleged Writer Sabotage
Hollywood’s most powerful talent agency is going to trial next week for allegedly not doing right by a client. Aaron Sorkin and other industry figures will testify. https://puck.news/did-caa-kill-a-writers-career-on-purpose/
Use $280M Fee to Fund Next‑Gen Investigative News
Dear Ted, Take 10% of the $2.8B breakup fee—roughly $280 million—and go hire the best investigative journalists in the world. Build a next-gen 60 Minutes. A better CNN. Think of the revenge possibilities.