"SoundExchange Challenges Ruling Limiting Its Legal Powers in $150M SiriusXM Royalty Dispute"

NEW YORK — SoundExchange, a U.S. performance rights organization, has expressed strong disapproval of a federal court’s recent decision that effectively blocks it from taking legal action against broadcasters. The organization labeled the ruling “entirely wrong on the law.” In a decision delivered by Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the court dismissed SoundExchange’s $150 million lawsuit against SiriusXM. The judge ruled that Congress has not conferred the necessary legal authority to SoundExchange to pursue lawsuits on behalf of artists and record labels, which the … Read more

AbbVie Secures $56M in Royalty Victory Over Revance in Botox Patent Dispute

CHICAGO – AbbVie has secured a significant legal victory in its ongoing battle over Botox-related patents. A jury has awarded the pharmaceutical company $56 million in royalties from Revance Therapeutics, affirming AbbVie’s claims of patent infringement. The case revolved around a contested patent for the use of a specific botulinum toxin formulation, which AbbVie argued Revance had violated with its own injectable therapy. This ruling underscores AbbVie’s commitment to protecting its intellectual property, particularly given the competitive landscape in the cosmetic and therapeutic market for neuromodulators. AbbVie has been a dominant player in the botulinum … Read more

Argent Trust Pursues Over $9 Million in Damages Against Blackbeard Operating in Texas Royalty Dispute

DALLAS, Texas — Argent Trust Company, acting as Trustee of the Permian Basin Royalty Trust, has submitted a second amended petition in a Tarrant County court as part of its ongoing lawsuit against Blackbeard Operating LLC. The legal dispute centers around oil and gas properties in Crane County, Texas, where the Trust claims ownership of a 75% net overriding royalty. The new petition seeks to recover more than $9 million, alleging that Blackbeard improperly calculated and withheld royalty payments owed to the Trust. Specific claims include inappropriate deductions for overhead costs, labor expenses, and saltwater … Read more

Legal Victory Partial for Companies in Arkansas Lithium Royalty Dispute

Little Rock, AR – In a significant legal proceeding on Friday, an administrative law judge hinted at likely siding partially with a group of five companies that petitioned the state Oil and Gas Commission to establish a royalty rate for lithium production from the Smackover formation in southern Arkansas. This area is emerging as a hotbed for lithium extraction, vital for battery production. The companies, seeking clarity and stability regarding the financial terms of lithium extraction, hope a fixed royalty rate will make investment and operations planning more predictable. Lithium, predominantly used in batteries for … Read more