Author Archives: rtushnet

Reading list: geolocation data increased incivility online

Civilizing social media: The effect of geolocation on the incivility of news comments Yufan Guo, Yuhan Li, and Tian Yang, New Media & Society (2023) Abstract Many social media affordances can affect the quality of online discourse, but such an effect remains understudied for the … Continue reading

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mistaken calls from nonpurchasers have little weight in real estate TM case

Rampart Resources, Inc. v. Rampart/Wurth Holding, Inc., 2024 WL 195999, No. 23-6895 (E.D. La. Jan. 18, 2024) The court, grappling with the Fifth Circuit’s rather inconsistent law on misdirected communications, denies a preliminary injunction (subject easily guessable by party names). … Continue reading

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Reading list: Trademarks in an Algorithmic World

 “Consumers used to watch ads; now, ads watch them.” So says Christine Haight Farley in her intriguing new article. Christine Haight Farley, Trademarks in an Algorithmic World, 98 Wash. L. Rev. 1123 (2023).  Abstract:  According to the sole normative foundation … Continue reading

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prospective injunctive relief for consumers hangs on in 9th Circuit for now

Clark v. Eddie Bauer LLC, 2024 WL 177755, No. 21-35334 (9th Cir. Jan. 17, 2024) This unpublished opinion has a dissent from Judge Bea indicating further disruptions in standing may be coming. Clark appealed the dismissal of her putative class … Continue reading

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call for submissions: Harvard/Stanford/Yale Junior Faculty Forum, June 3-4, 2024

 Request for Submissions Harvard/Stanford/Yale Junior Faculty Forum June 3-4, 2024, Stanford Law School Harvard, Stanford, and Yale Law Schools are soliciting submissions for the 2024 Harvard/Stanford/Yale Junior Faculty Forum, to be held at Stanford Law School on June 3-4, 2024. … Continue reading

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over dissent, 6th Circuit holds that large player in fragmented market could show proximate cause under Lexmark

Campfield v. Safelite Gp., Inc., — F.4th —-, 2024 WL 164976, Nos. 22-3204/3225 (6th Cir. Jan. 16, 2024) Over a dissent in relevant part, the court revived plaintiff Ultra Bond’s Lanham Act claim relating to vehicle glass repair and replacement … Continue reading

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after experts excluded, slack fill class action fails

Krause-Pettai v. Unilever United States, Inc., — F.Supp.3d —-, 2023 WL 6429805, No. 20-cv-1672-AGS-BLM (S.D. Cal. Sept. 30, 2023) This case is about “nonfunctional slack fill,” or useless empty space, inside underarm-deodorant sticks. The court rejected the claim on summary … Continue reading

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new article w/Mark Lemley: First Amendment Neglect in SCOTUS IP Cases

First Amendment Neglect in Supreme Court Intellectual Property Cases Mark A. Lemley & Rebecca Tushnet (forthcoming, Supreme Court Review) Abstract The Supreme Court decided two cases of central importance to free speech during the 2022 term – in both cases … Continue reading

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Tea Rose flour ads

 Thanks, Library of Congress! My search for depictions of the dueling Tea Rose flours in Hanover Star Milling Co. v. Metcalf, 240 U.S. 403 (1916), had previously been futile, but not any more. from Blogger http://tushnet.blogspot.com/2024/01/tea-rose-flour-ads.html

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“carbon neutral” plausibly misleading because consumers don’t understand it

Dorris v. Danone Waters, 2024 WL 112843, No. 22 Civ. 8717 (NSR) (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 10, 2024) Plaintiffs alleged that advertising Evian as “carbon neutral” violated the consumer protection statutes of New York, Massachusetts, and California, and constituted breach of express … Continue reading

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