Author Archives: rtushnet

Using dominant competitor’s part names/numbers for comparison isn’t false advertising, TM infringement, or (c) infringement

Posted on December 18, 2023 by rtushnet

There really should be a fee shift when a competitor harasses another competitor for daring to make comparisons of part numbers, but we don’t seem to live in that world.  Simpson Strong-Tie Co. v. Mitek Inc., 2023 WL 8697700, No. … Continue reading →

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Reasonable consumers may not be required to peel back labels in store to read drug facts

Posted on December 15, 2023 by rtushnet

Zimmerman v. L’Oreal USA, Inc., 2023 WL 8587620, No. 22-cv-07609-HSG (N.D. Cal. Dec. 8, 2023) This putative class action bringing the usual California statutory claims alleges that L’Oréal misleadingly advertises the sunscreen benefits of some of its cosmetic products, such … Continue reading →

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alleged misrepresentation of partnership/approval suffices for false advertising claim

Posted on December 15, 2023 by rtushnet

Faire Wholesale, Inc. v. Tundra, Inc., 2023 WL 8586681, No. 23-cv-02538-JSC (N.D. Cal. Dec. 8, 2023) When does TM logic creep into false advertising cases? Faire operates an online marketplace connecting wholesalers with retailers. Faire sued Tundra, which makes a … Continue reading →

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false advertising is harder to prove than TM infringement because of the injury requirement (not to mention materiality)

Posted on December 15, 2023 by rtushnet

ImprimisRx, LLC v. OSRX, INC., 2023 WL 8604148, No. 21-cv-01305-BAS-DDL (S.D. Cal. Dec. 12, 2023) The parties are compounding pharmacies that focus on medications used in optometry and ophthalmology. Section 503A compounding pharmacies fill prescriptions for individual patients. Section 503B … Continue reading →

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Dastar bars false advertising claim against “first of its kind” ads

Posted on December 15, 2023 by rtushnet

 Vericool World LLC v. Igloo Prods. Corp., 2023 WL 8634803, No. 22-cv-02440-HSG (N.D. Cal. Dec. 13, 2023) Vericool alleged that Igloo falsely claimed that its “Recool” biodegradable cooler was the first of its kind. The court found this Dastar-barred, since … Continue reading →

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Of Bass Notes and Base Rates: Avoiding Mistaken Inferences about Copying

Posted on December 14, 2023 by rtushnet

 New article with Chris Buccafusco: Houston Law Review, Vol. 61, 2023 Abstract To prove copyright infringement, a plaintiff must convince a jury that the defendant copied from the plaintiff’s work rather than independently creating it. To prove copying, especially cases … Continue reading →

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Netchoice amicus on behalf of Discord

Posted on December 7, 2023 by rtushnet

 Chris Sprigman and I just submitted this brief. The focus of the argument is the associational interests of Discord’s users, who want and need assistance from centralized content moderation in order to support their communities.  from Blogger http://tushnet.blogspot.com/2023/12/netchoice-amicus-on-behalf-of-discord.html

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Dastar bars false marking claims brought under Lanham Act (dubitante)

Posted on December 7, 2023 by rtushnet

Urban Dollz LLC v. Lashify, Inc., 2023 WL 8292459, No. CV 23-1427-GW-AFMx (C.D. Cal. Oct. 17, 2023) Super-interesting holding that, while there’s no patent field preemption against bringing false patent marking claims under the Lanham Act, Dastar (as expansively interpreted … Continue reading →

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using testimonials post-relationship failure can be a ROP problem

Posted on December 7, 2023 by rtushnet

McCandless Group, LLC v. COY Collective, Inc., No. LA CV 21-02069-DOC-KES, 2023 WL 8351525 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 23, 2023) The individual defendants co-founded COY in 2019 to provide creator clients with a platform to offer subscription services. COY hired MG … Continue reading →

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California’s UCL potentially available against junk fees

Posted on December 7, 2023 by rtushnet

Sepanossian v. National Ready Mix Co., — Cal.Rptr.3d —-, 2023 WL 7590798, No. B319260 (Ct. App. Nov. 15, 2023) Sepanossian, who operates a construction business, filed a class action against Ready Mix, which sells mixed concrete to small businesses for … Continue reading →

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