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In the news: Stern settlement gives him control of master tapes

By TIMES WIRES
Published May 29, 2006

Howard Stern regained control of the master tapes from the last 20 years of his terrestrial radio program in a Friday settlement of the contentious lawsuit brought by his former bosses at CBS Radio.

Stern's new employer, Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., agreed to pay $2-million to CBS Radio in return for the rights to the classic recordings, according to a statement released by both sides.

The remaining details of the settlement were confidential, according to the statement.

CBS spokesman Dana McClintock declined to make further comment, and Stern's agent, Don Buchwald, did not immediately return a call to the Associated Press.

CBS Radio sued Stern in February, the latest salvo in an escalating battle between the corporation and its former star employee. The company contended that Stern had violated his contract by improperly using his airtime on CBS stations to promote his January move to Sirius.

Woody Allen: a bad day from the bench

Woody Allen, in another legal fight with two former friends and producers he accused of cheating him out of $12-million, has lost a skirmish over what versions of six of his movies will be shown on TV and in airplanes.

New York State Supreme Court Justice Bernard Fried ruled that terms of a settlement of a lawsuit Allen filed against Jean Doumanian, his former producer and friend of 30 years, allow her to develop the TV and in-flight versions of Bullets over Broadway, Mighty Aphrodite, Everyone Says I Love You, Deconstructing Harry, Celebrity and Sweet and Lowdown.

The fight stems from the 2001 lawsuit Allen filed against Doumanian; Jacqui Safra, her personal and professional partner; and their production company, Sweetland Films.

Allen, 70, alleged that Doumanian and Safra refused to give him an earnings report for eight films, including the six in dispute, and had cheated him out of as much as $12-million.

After a nine-day trial in 2002, the parties settled the lawsuit without revealing the terms.

Doctor says Jolie, new daughter doing well

It looks like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt got what every parent wants - a healthy baby.

While Namibian officials declined Sunday to give any details on the birth Saturday of Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, a doctor at the hospital said there were no complications and the mother and daughter were doing well.

The doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release information, said the baby is healthy.

Police ringed the hospital with tight security Sunday, refusing to admit journalists and photographers.

Samuel Nuuyoma, the governor of the Namibian region of Erongo, confirmed the birth at the Welwitschia Clinic in Walvis Bay and seemed to hint that key details would be released shortly.

"Any information relating to the birth of the baby will be made available to the public soon," said Nuuyoma, who has become friends with the celebrity couple.

- TIMES WIRES

[Last modified May 29, 2006, 04:58:26]