Quick Takes - April 6, 2010

Judge rules for the AP

A judge says lawyers for artist Shepard Fairey must disclose the identities of anyone who deleted or destroyed records related to a copyright dispute over the Barack Obama “HOPE” image.

Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled Monday in favor of the Associated Press in most of its requests for evidence, including when Fairey’s lawyers first knew the AP claimed to hold the copyright to a photograph the image was based on.

Fairey sued the AP last year. The AP countersued. This year, it was disclosed that Fairey is under criminal investigation after Fairey said he erred about which AP photo he used as a basis for “HOPE.”

He said he had submitted false images and deleted other images to conceal his mistake.

Attorneys for Fairey didn’t immediately comment Monday.

-- associated press Firm wants fees from Leibovitz

Photographer Annie Leibovitz was sued by Brunswick Capital Partners LP, a Manhattan-based investment firm, for failing to pay at least $315,000 in fees it claims are due as part of her financing deal with private-equity firm Colony Capital LLC.

In a lawsuit filed April 2 in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, Brunswick said it entered into an agreement in February 2009 to seek “strategic financing” for her.

In exchange for a $50,000 initial retainer fee and an additional weekly $10,000 retainer payments, Brunswick obtained a list of lenders for Leibovitz, Brunswick claims in the complaint. Brunswick also alleges it’s entitled to a 2% “success fee” stemming from Leibovitz’s deal with Colony Capital.

A spokesman for Leibovitz wasn’t immediately available for comment.

-- bloomberg Bankhead play will close

Producers announced Monday that Broadway’s “Looped,” starring Valerie Harper, will close on Sunday after just 25 regular performances at the Lyceum Theater.

The comedy, written by Matthew Lombardo, had been playing to half-filled houses in recent days.

“Looped,” which stars Harper in the role of Tallulah Bankhead, follows the screen star on a day when she shows up for a post-production session on her movie “Die! Die! My Darling!” to loop a line of dialogue.

“Looped” ran at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2008 in a production that also starred Harper.

-- David Ng ‘Ref’ scores, ‘Death’ dies

NBC renewed its three new unscripted shows: “The Marriage Ref,” “Minute to Win It” and “Who Do You Think You Are?”

Fox canceled “ ‘Til Death” and “Sons of Tucson,” which recently premiered. This means that all of the network’s laughs will come from cartoon characters unless it picks up new live-action shows for next fall. Fox has greenlighted nine of those pilots for contention for fall.

-- Maria Elena Fernandez Getty board taps ex-envoy

The J. Paul Getty Trust said Monday that its board of trustees had elected Ronald P. Spogli, former U.S. ambassador to Italy, as a member of the board.

Spogli served as ambassador to Italy and San Marino during the second half of the George W. Bush administration. He now serves as president and chief executive of Freeman Spogli & Co., a private-equity firm based in Los Angeles that he helped to found.

As ambassador, Spogli played a role in the museum’s legal wrangling with the Italian government that resulted in the Getty’s 2007 promise to return 40 works of ancient art that Italy claimed were looted and smuggled out of the country before being purchased by the Getty.

In a statement, board chair Louise Bryson said that Spogli brings “recognized leadership in Italy where we look forward to strengthening particularly meaningful partnerships.”

-- David Ng CMT opens country voting

Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum and Sugarland each are up for four CMT Music Awards.

Six other country music acts received three nominations apiece. CMT announced nominees Monday and fans can vote at the network’s website until May 3 to narrow each category to four finalists.

-- associated press