Monthly Archives: December 2014

Pom Wonderful’s happy new year on likely confusion

Pom Wonderful LLC v. Hubbard, No. 14-55253 (9th Cir. Dec. 30, 2014) The Ninth Circuit is the source of some of IP’s highest highs and its lowest lows.  The reader is invited to consider where this decision fits.  The district … Continue reading

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Transformative work of the day

Indiana Bones and the Raiders of the Lost Bark.  Via ST. http://tushnet.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

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Failure to disclose potato variety isn’t misleading

Zuckerman Family Farms, Inc. v. Bidart Bros., No. 1:14–cv–01529, 2014 WL 7239423 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 17, 2014)   Plaintiffs sued for violation of the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA), the Lanham Act, and California Business Practices Code section 17200 et … Continue reading

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Seen at the Spy Museum

Matzohball, an Israel Bond thriller, a new adventure of Hebrew secret agent Oy-Oy-7, by Sol Weinstein, author of Loxfinger. http://tushnet.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

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Rogers applies when film is simply named for character

Valencia v. Universal City Studios LLC, No. 1:14–CV–00528, 2014 WL 7240526 (N.D. Ga. Dec. 18, 2014)   Valencia, professionally known as Honey Rockwell, sued Universal for invasions of privacy; fraud, false advertising, and unfair competition; and trademark dilution.   Valencia … Continue reading

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Sony in the Killzone: case over resolution continues

Ladore v. Sony Computer Entertainment America, LLC, 2014 WL 7187159, No. C–14–3530 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 16, 2014)   Ladore sued Sony for allegedly false advertising of its video game Killzone: Shadow Fall. Sony allegedly represented that Killzone’s “multiplayer” mode renders … Continue reading

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Do you have to buy the IP to buy the "company"?

A.Hak Industrial Services BV v. TechCorr USA, LLC, 2014 WL 7272796, No. 3:11–CV–74 (N.D. W. Va. Dec. 18, 2014)   Berkeley Springs Instruments (BSI) sold certain IP rights in robotic tank inspection and cleaning technology to A.Hak. TechCorr argued that … Continue reading

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scientific claims in ordinary ads aren’t protected opinion

Eastman Chemical Co. v. Plastipure, Inc., 2014 WL 7271384, No. 13–51087 (5th Cir. Dec. 22, 2014) A jury found that Plastipure (and defendant CertiChem) engaged in false advertising (discussed here).  The court of appeals affirmed the entry of an injunction.  … Continue reading

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you can’t a accuse competitor of lawbreaking when courts have ruled against you

Paul Davis Restoration, Inc. v. Everett, No. 14–C–1534, 2014 WL 7140038 (E.D. Wis. Dec. 12, 2014) Following a series of unsuccessful lawsuits with Paul Davis Restoration, Inc., Matthew Everett, a former franchisee, began running a radio ad: This is a … Continue reading

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irreparable harm is permissible inference, Third Circuit rules

Groupe SEB USA, Inc. v. Euro-Pro Operating LLC., No. 14-2767 (3d Cir. Dec. 17, 2014) District court opinion discussed here.  Euro-Pro appealed the preliminary injunction against it based on Lanham Act false advertising claims against its advertising for its steam … Continue reading

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