PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Judge: Harry was not unfairly stripped of UK security detail
Prince Harry’s fight for publicly funded protection was rejected Wednesday by a London judge who said the U.K. government didn’t act irrationally when it stripped him of security privileges after he quit working as a member of the royal family and moved to the United States. Harry plans to appeal the decision.
High Court Judge Peter Lane said the February 2020 decision to provide “bespoke” security to the Duke of Sussex on an asneeded basis wasn’t unlawful, irrational or unjustified.
Harry said he planned to keep challenging the decision made by the group known by the acronym of its former name, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, or RAVEC, a spokesperson said.
“The duke is not asking for preferential treatment, but for a fair and lawful application of RAVEC’s own rules, ensuring that he receives the same consideration as others in accordance with RAVEC’s own written policy,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Harry claimed in the lawsuit that he and his family were endangered when visiting the U.K. because of hostility toward him and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, on social media and relentless hounding by news media.
A government lawyer said Harry had been treated fairly and was still provided protection on some visits.
Donna Summer estate sues Ye, Ty Dolla $ign over song
The estate of Donna Summer sued Ye and Ty Dolla $ign on Tuesday for what its attorneys say is the “shamelessly” illegal use of her 1977 song “I Feel Love” in their collaboration “Good (Don’t Die).”
The copyright infringement lawsuit was filed in federal court in Los Angeles by Summer’s husband, Bruce Sudano, in his capacity as executor of the estate of the singer-songwriter and “Disco Queen,” who died in 2012.
The suit alleges that when representatives of Ye, formerly Kanye West, sought permission for use of the song, they were rejected because the Summer estate “wanted no association with West’s controversial history.”
The suit contends that the album instead “shamelessly” includes re-recorded parts of the song that were “instantly recognizable.”
“In the face of this rejection,” the suit says, “defendants arrogantly and unilaterally decided they would simply steal ‘I Feel Love’ and use it without permission.”
An email seeking comment from representatives for Ye was not immediately returned.