Author Archives: rtushnet

Failure to disclose potato variety isn’t misleading

Posted on December 30, 2014 by rtushnet

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 →

Posted in dastar, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, patent, trademark | Leave a comment

Seen at the Spy Museum

Posted on December 29, 2014 by rtushnet

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

Posted in parody, trademark | Leave a comment

Rogers applies when film is simply named for character

Posted on December 29, 2014 by rtushnet

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 →

Posted in right of publicity, trademark | Leave a comment

Sony in the Killzone: case over resolution continues

Posted on December 29, 2014 by rtushnet

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 →

Posted in california, consumer protection, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post | Leave a comment

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

Posted on December 29, 2014 by rtushnet

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 →

Posted in http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, trademark | Leave a comment

scientific claims in ordinary ads aren’t protected opinion

Posted on December 24, 2014 by rtushnet

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 →

Posted in commercial speech, first amendment, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post | Leave a comment

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

Posted on December 18, 2014 by rtushnet

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 →

Posted in commercial speech, first amendment, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post | Leave a comment

irreparable harm is permissible inference, Third Circuit rules

Posted on December 18, 2014 by rtushnet

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 →

Posted in http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, remedies | Leave a comment

Soul survivor: publicity and TM claims against recorded performance fail

Posted on December 17, 2014 by rtushnet

Cummings v. Soul Train Holdings LLC, 2014 WL 7008952, No. 14 Civ. 36 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 12, 2014) This right of publicity/trademark case based on use of recorded performances to which the plaintiff didn’t own the copyright could’ve gone a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, preemption, right of publicity, trademark | Leave a comment

the intersection of FTC US origin guidelines and the Lanham Act

Posted on December 17, 2014 by rtushnet

A.P. Deauville, LLC v. Arion Perfume and Beauty, Inc., No. C14-03343, 2014 WL 7140041 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 12, 2014) Deauville sued Arion for false advertising and unfair competition, and Arion counterclaimed.  This opinion granted in part Deauville’s motion to dismiss. … Continue reading →

Posted in california, fda, ftc, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post | Leave a comment