Author Archives: rtushnet

False advertising claims over music licensing survive

Tresóna Multimedia LLC v. Legg, 2015 WL 470228, No. CV–14–02141 (D. Az. Feb. 4, 2015) Tresóna is a music copyright licensing company that sells custom arrangement licenses for particular pieces of music, allowing the purchaser to arrange a piece of … Continue reading →

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gay conversion therapy as NJCFA violation

Slate on “gay conversion therapy” as a violation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, not to mention human dignity. http://tushnet.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

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fake reviews actionable; unflattering comparison not

Homeland Housewares, LLC v. Euro-Pro Operating LLC, 2015 WL 476287, No. CV 14–03954 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 5, 2015)   The parties compete in the market for home blenders.  Homeland makes the Bullet line, and Euro-Pro makes the Nutri Ninja Pro.  … Continue reading →

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Shore loser: "shorebilly" mark invalid for fraud

Teal Bay Alliances, LLC v. Southbound One, Inc., 2015 WL 401251 (D. Md. Jan. 26, 2015)   It’s never good to have the court’s first sentence describe a plaintiff’s claims as “specious claims that—as exposed once the evidence was tested … Continue reading →

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Another keyword defendant victory, among other tort claims

M-Edge Accessories LLC v. Amazon.com Inc., 2015 WL 403164,  No. MJG–11–3332 (D. Md. Jan. 29, 2015)   M-Edge started selling Kindle accessories soon after the Kindle was released. The parties’ relationship began well, but began to sour by 2011. M-Edge … Continue reading →

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Public comments on proposed DMCA classes

Public comments on the proposed DMCA classes are up. I had the great privilege of working with EFF’s Corynne McSherry on the noncommercial remix exemption.  The comment of EFF and the Organization for Transformative works is here.  I believe we … Continue reading →

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false claim of gov’t affiliation not actionable by non-gov’t plaintiff

Two Jinn, Inc. v. Government Payment Serv., Inc., A136984, 2015 WL 456063 (Cal. Ct. App. Feb. 3, 2015)   Two Jinn (dba Aladdin Bail Bonds), a licensed bail agent, tried to enjoin GPS, a financial services entity, from allegedly engaging … Continue reading →

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No TM or false advertising claims without use of mark in US commerce

Belmora LLC v. Bayer Consumer Care AG, No.  1:14-cv-00847 (E.D. Va. Feb. 6, 2015)   Territoriality lives!  Belmora sells an OTC pain relief product, Flanax, in the US with a similar trade dress to, and capitalizing on the good will … Continue reading →

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WIPIP, part 2, Session 3 Trademark

Session 3, Trademark   Leah Chan Grinvald, Constructive Consent   Courts adopt as evidence of fame the number of users = strength = fame.  Example: the number of Flipboard users accepted by a court in October.  But that also is … Continue reading →

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WIPIP, Part 2, Session 2, Trademark

Glynn Lunney, Inefficient Trademark Law   Older TM lawyer would be surprised at breadth: inherently distinctive marks were the only marks, and double identity was essentially the rule.  Today: looks very different. What will it look like in 100 years—will … Continue reading →

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