Author Archives: rtushnet

Is "following" on Twitter endorsement?

Posted on January 2, 2015 by rtushnet

If William Shatner is right, does Twitter have a false endorsement/right of publicity problem when it puts sponsored accounts into celebrities’ “following” lists, even with a disclaimer?  Does Twitter’s ToS do enough to insulate it from such claims?  Via +truthinadvertising.org … Continue reading →

Posted in right of publicity, trademark | Leave a comment

I’m stuck on Choc-Aid

Posted on January 1, 2015 by rtushnet

because it melted in my hands: Choc-Aid (R) Milk Chocolate bandages Note the (R).  http://tushnet.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

Posted in dilution, trademark | Leave a comment

Accusation of "instability" actionable but use of generic term isn’t confusing

Posted on January 1, 2015 by rtushnet

EndoSurg Medical, Inc. v. EndoMaster Medical, Inc., No. GJH–14–2827, 2014 WL 7336691 (D. Md. Dec. 19, 2014)   Plaintiff EndoSurg makes endoscope replacement components, and plaintiff EndoCure makes custom rigid and small diameter flexible endoscopes.  (Endoscopic surgery requires inserting an … Continue reading →

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

Pom Wonderful’s happy new year on likely confusion

Posted on December 31, 2014 by rtushnet

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

Posted on December 30, 2014 by rtushnet

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

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

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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 →

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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