Win for Kanye, Ludacris
June 6, 2006"Stand Up" is straight-up original.
After deliberating for less than a day, a New York jury ruled Thursday that Kanye West and Ludacris did not violate another group's copyright when they recorded their hit 2003 single "Stand Up," which was later featured on Chris "Ludacris" Bridges' "Chicken & Beer" album.
New Jersey foursome I.O.F. (which stands for It's Only Family) and production company BMS Entertainment/Heat Music LLC had sued the platinum-selling rappers for using beats and lyrics from a song I.O.C. made in 2001 called "Straight Like That." The main point of contention was that both "Straight Like That" and "Stand Up" use the phrase "like that" more than 80 times, according to the lawsuit.
Weisz Becomes a Mummy
June 6, 2006Oscar winner Rachel Weisz has another little man in her life to cherish.
The 35-year-old actress and her fiancé, filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, welcomed a healthy baby boy Wednesday night in New York, according to "People" and "Us Weekly."
This is the couple's first child.
Weisz announced her pregnancy in January on the "Tonight Show" and went on to accept multiple honors for her role as a human rights activist who gets too close to corruption in "The Constant Gardener"--including an Academy Award--with a burgeoning baby belly in tow.
Shiloh, Duchess of URL
June 6, 2006Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt is the baby who has everything--a doting Angelina Jolie, a doting Brad Pitt, two siblings, and at least three URLs.
The domain names ShilohNouvelJolie-Pitt.com, ShilohPitt.com and ShilohNouvel.com, and even more variations, were snapped up by Jolie through her Los Angeles lawyer on Saturday, the same day the Oscar-winning actress gave birth a world away in Namibia, online records show.
Blogs have been on the Jolie-Pitt URL trail for days--popbytes.com drew attention to ShilohNouvelJoliePitt.com (no hyphen) within hours of its creation last weekend; ReveNews.com smoked out ShilohNouvelJolie-Pitt.com (one hyphen) on Wednesday.
Affleck's Summer Nuptials
June 6, 2006As it turned out, June was the perfect month for a Summer wedding.
A few years after popping the question, Casey Affleck tied the knot with Summer Phoenix over the weekend, the groom's publicist, Rebecca Feferman, confirmed Monday.
The couple have been together for six years and have a two-year-old son, Indiana August.
No other details about the wedding were available, such as whether any famous older siblings made the scene. Phoenix's big bro, Joaquin, aka Cupid, was the one who introduced the happy couple.
Daughtry Nixes Fuel
June 6, 2006Chris Daughtry is looking for a Fuel alternative.
The "American Idol" top four finalist, whose elimination from the talent search was perhaps the most controversial event of the fifth season, has turned down an offer from the multi-platinum rock band to become its lead singer.
Zac Hanson Getting Hitched
June 6, 2006When did he MMMPop the question?
After five years together, Zac Hanson--another 20-year-old with a "Best of" album--and his girlfriend, 22-year-old Kate Tucker, have made plans to tie the knot Saturday in Atlanta.
"The couple is planning an intimate ceremony with close family and friends," Katie McNeil, publicist for the band Hanson, told the Associated Press. We're guessing that he'll have two fellows performing the role of best man.
Zac is the youngest member of Hanson, the brotherly trio who hit it big in 1997 with the album "Middle of Nowhere" and the infectious little diddy "MMMBop."
Danny Does Farm Aid
June 6, 2006Danny Glover is getting in touch with his inner green thumb.
The "Lethal Weapon" star was the latest celebrity to pay a visit to a South Los Angeles urban farm, joining dozens of activists in protesting its destruction by developers.
McConaughey's Cruz Sails
June 6, 2006The unmarried life does have its advantages, as the uncoupling Matthew McConaughey and Penélope Cruz might attest.
In lieu of divorce papers and court filings, a press release first issued Friday to People magazine was all the duo needed to announce they were splitting up. Sorry, "tak[ing] time off."
"Due to busy work schedules and so much time apart, they mutually decided four weeks ago that separating was the best thing to do at this time," the statement said.
Girl No. 3 for Harrelson
June 6, 2006"Cheers" to Woody Harrelson and family.
The actor became a father of three Saturday when he and his wife, Laura Louie, welcomed their third daughter together, People reported. They have named her Makani Ravello.
In an interview in the June 12 issue of Newsweek, Harrelson talked about choosing the locale for the birth of baby number three.
"It was between Italy and Ireland," he said. "I was pulling for Ireland, but Laura preferred Italy, so that was that." Harrelson and Louie have been married since 1998.
The Internet Gets Green
June 6, 2006Tom Green's bum is going on the Web.
The 34-year-old Canadian will take his shtick online June 15 as the host of "Tom Green Live," a weekly call-in talk show debuting on ManiaTV.com.
Green, who most recently has been exercising his funnyman-on-the-street interviewing skills for Tonight Show skits, will produce the webcasts from the living room of his Hollywood Hills home, using the set from his MTV show. He's set to tape 50 episodes.