Controversies_and_legal_issues Cirque_du_Soleil

1 controversies , legal issues

1.1 firing of hiv-positive artist
1.2 trademark , copyright disputes
1.3 h.b. 2 law in north carolina

controversies , legal issues
firing of hiv-positive artist

in november 2003, gymnast matthew cusick (represented lambda legal defense , education fund) filed discrimination complaint against cirque du soleil in equal employment opportunity commission, alleging violation of americans disabilities act. cusick (a trainee performer scheduled begin working @ mystère) alleged in april 2002, cirque du soleil fired him because tested hiv-positive, though company doctors had cleared him healthy enough perform. cirque du soleil alleged due nature of cusick s disease coupled job s high risk of injury, there significant risk of infecting other performers, crew or audience members. cirque du soleil said had several hiv-positive employees, in case of cusick, risk of him spreading infection while performing high take risk. boycott ensued , out ran story on (with headline flipping off cirque ). cirque du soleil settled cusick in april 2004; under settlement, company began company-wide anti-discrimination training program, changed employment practices pertaining hiv-positive applicants; paid cusick $60,000 in lost wages, $200,000 in front pay, , $300,000 in compensatory damages; , paid $40,000 in attorney fees lambda legal.

an additional complaint filed on cusick s behalf san francisco human rights commission. complaint stemmed city of san francisco s ban on city contracting employers discriminate based on hiv status; circus leases property owned city-owned port of san francisco.

trademark , copyright disputes

cirque du soleil opposed neil goldberg , company cirque productions on use of word cirque in late 1990s. goldberg s company awarded trademark on name cirque dreams in 2005.

in august 1999, fremonster theatrical filed application trademark cirque de flambé. application opposed owners of cirque du soleil trademark in august 2002, on grounds cause confusion , [dilute] distinctive quality of cirque du soleil s trademarks. judge dismissed opposition , cirque de flambé trademark application approved in 2005.

in april 2016, cirque du soleil filed copyright infringement lawsuit against justin timberlake, timbaland, , sony music entertainment in federal court in new york, alleging timberlake s song don t hold wall (co-written timbaland) 2013 album 20/20 infringed copyright of cirque du soleil s song steel dream 1997 album quidam.

h.b. 2 law in north carolina

in 2016, cirque du soleil announced cancellation of 2016 touring shows north carolina, citing recent signing of public facilities privacy & security act north carolina governor pat mccrory. cancelations affected ovo in both greensboro , charlotte, , toruk in raleigh. company announced in press release cirque du soleil believes in diversity , equality every individual , opposed discrimination in form. new hb2 legislation passed in north carolina important regression ensuring human rights all. cirque has been criticized decision , accused of taking double standard, cancelling shows in north carolina while many times have performed shows in countries united arab emirates violates number of fundamental human rights.