Author Archives: rtushnet

Federal Circuit reads “literal falsity” way too narrowly

Posted on June 20, 2025 by rtushnet

BPI Sports, LLC v. Thermolife Int’l LLC, Nos. 2023-1068, 2023-1625, 2023-1112, 2025 WL 1683234 (Fed. Cir. Jun. 16, 2025) This is a false advertising case involving allegedly false patent marking. Creatine nitrate is an amino-acid nitrate used in dietary supplements. … Continue reading →

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“abortion reversal” promoter engaged in inherently and potentially misleading commercial speech, court rules

Posted on June 20, 2025 by rtushnet

Culture of Life Family Services, Inc. v. Bonta, 2025 WL 1677783, No. 3:24-cv-01338-GPC-KSC (S.D. Cal. Jun. 13, 2025) In two opinions on the same day, the court didn’t give much comfort to an “abortion reversal” provider. COLFS sought to enjoin … Continue reading →

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it’s plausibly deceptive to sell “Kids” gummies identical to adult gummies

Posted on June 6, 2025 by rtushnet

Barrales v. New Chapter, Inc., 2025 WL 1584424, No. 2:25-cv-01171-HDV-KES (C.D. Cal. Jun. 4, 2025) Plaintiff alleged that defendant’s Fiber Gummies were deceptively labeled (1) because the claim “with 4g of probiotic fiber” was false because it implies that each … Continue reading →

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“wholesome” not puffery in context, court finds

Posted on June 6, 2025 by rtushnet

Levit v. Nature’s Bakery, LLC, 767 F.Supp.3d 955 (N.D. Cal. 2025) Nature’s Bakery Products fig bars claim “Wholesome Baked In,” “equal parts wholesome and delicious,” “what we bake in is as important as what we leave out,” “simple snacks made … Continue reading →

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competitor’s challenge to use of expired certification marks must go to trial

Posted on June 6, 2025 by rtushnet

FireBlok IP Holdings v. Hilti, Inc., No. 19-cv-50122, 2025 WL 1557924 (N.D. Ill. Jun. 4, 2025) FireBlok sued defendants, relevantly for false advertising and false association. The court denied FireBlok’s motion for summary judgment. FireBlok alleged that defendants’ use of … Continue reading →

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P&G’s primary jurisdiction argument over tampon labels goes down like a lead balloon

Posted on May 30, 2025 by rtushnet

Barton v. Procter & Gamble Co., 766 F.Supp.3d 1045 (S.D. Cal. 2025) Plaintiffs alleged that P&G’s Tampax Pearl and Radiant tampons had dangerous levels of lead; the court allowed some of the usual California claims to proceed, including for injunctive … Continue reading →

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Deadline extended to Friday: TM scholarship roundtable

Posted on May 28, 2025 by rtushnet

  TM scholarship roundtable The Trademark and Unfair Competition Scholarship Roundtable co-hosted by Harvard, NYU, and the University of Pennsylvania will take place this year at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. The Roundtable is designed to be a … Continue reading →

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court holds Elon Musk couldn’t be deceived by statements he coauthored

Posted on May 26, 2025 by rtushnet

Musk v. OpenAI, Inc., 2025 WL 1482386, No. 4:24-CV-04722-YGR (N.D. Cal. May 1, 2025) I’m only discussing the false advertising claims; they are funny. Musk’s false advertising claim under California law fails because “there is no evidence Musk relied on … Continue reading →

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omission of FedEx’s role in embryo transport was potentially deceptive

Posted on May 22, 2025 by rtushnet

S.W. v. Cryoport, Inc., 2025 WL 1421909, No. 8:24-cv-02212-AH-(DFMx) (C.D. Cal. Apr. 24, 2025) Tragic facts in this consumer protection case. Plaintiffs underwent IVF treatments in 2019 to preserve their options, resulting in six cryopreserved healthy embryos. They contracted with … Continue reading →

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omissions-based deceptiveness claims are easier to bring in Cal. than NY

Posted on May 22, 2025 by rtushnet

Gamino v. Spin Master, Inc., No. ED CV 23-2242-DMG (SPx), 2025 WL 1421907 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 31, 2025) California and New York residents sued the manufacturers of certain children’s toys they purchased, “Orbeez water beads,” alleging the water beads pose … Continue reading →

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