Author Archives: rtushnet

Great balls of fire: lawsuit over malt sold looking nearly identical to whisky can continue

Posted on May 22, 2023 by rtushnet

McKay v. Sazerac Co., 23-cv-00522-EMC (N.D. Cal. May 17, 2023) The court rejected Sazerac’s motion to dismiss McKay’s usual California statutory and common law claims on behalf of a putative class based on Sazerac’s labeling and marketing of mini bottles … Continue reading →

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Second Circuit signals some minimal flexibility on Polaroid analysis in another strip club false endorsement case

Posted on May 22, 2023 by rtushnet

Souza v. Exotic Island Enters., Inc., 2023 WL 3556053, No. 21-2149-cv, — F.4th —- (2d Cir. May 19, 2023) Whereas the timeshare false advertising cases might be making law largely applicable to other timeshare cases, what’s going on in the … Continue reading →

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court allows some claims based on allegedly misleading statistical claims for pregnancy test: Bayes’ Theorem in the courts

Posted on May 19, 2023 by rtushnet

In re Natera Prenatal Testing Litig., No. 22-cv-00985-JST, 2023 WL 3370737, — F. Supp. 3d – (N.D. Cal. Mar. 28, 2023) Natera sells Panorama, a noninvasive prenatal testing (“NIPT”) product which screens for an array of fetal chromosomal and genetic … Continue reading →

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courts continue to jack up materiality requirements; the Lanham Act and the death of common sense?

Posted on May 19, 2023 by rtushnet

Delta T LLC v. MacroAir Technologies, Inc., No. EDCV 20-1489-GW-JPRx, 2022 WL 19827572 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 18, 2022) MacroAir asserted – among other things – a counterclaim for false advertising under the Lanham Act. Of potential note: Plaintiff aka BAF … Continue reading →

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copying/explicit references let Roblox proceed with dubious (c) claim; Lego should be watching

Posted on May 19, 2023 by rtushnet

Roblox Corp. v. Wowwee Gp. Ltd., 2023 WL 2433970, — F. Supp. 3d –, No. 22-cv-04476-SI (N.D. Cal. Mar. 9, 2023) Roblox runs a “digital world where users create virtual games and experiences and connect with other users.” Users interact … Continue reading →

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court doesn’t find consumer protection claim over “sweet cream” plausible without survey; dictionaries insufficient

Posted on May 19, 2023 by rtushnet

Sneed v. Ferrero U.S.A., Inc., — F.Supp.3d —-, No. 22 CV 1183, 2023 WL 2019049 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 15, 2023) Courts in consumer protection cases reject surveys with abandon when they don’t agree with the results, but may also demand … Continue reading →

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if an allegedly falsely advertised product isn’t useless, P may have standing to seek injunctive relief

Posted on May 19, 2023 by rtushnet

Perez v. Bath & Body Works, LLC, No. 21-cv-05606-BLF, 2023 WL 3467207 (N.D. Cal. May 15, 2023) Interesting analysis of standing for injunctive relief: Where the product is a useful one, the court finds standing based on a desire to … Continue reading →

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Why do people fall for pyramid schemes? FTC v. Noland offers examples

Posted on May 19, 2023 by rtushnet

 FTC v. Noland, 20-cv-00047-DWL (D. Ariz. May 11, 2023) The decision in FTC v. Noland is notable for its discussion of the testimony of a number of witnesses supporting the defendant who seem to have been largely victims of the … Continue reading →

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Apple v. Corellium out: 11th Cir. finds copying for security research transformative

Posted on May 9, 2023 by rtushnet

Apple v. Corellium, Inc., No. 21-12835 (11th Cir. May 8, 2023) The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the core finding that Corellium’s copying of iOS for security research purposes was fair use, but vacated and remanded for further analysis of contributory infringement … Continue reading →

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Trademark and Unfair Competition Scholarship Roundtable 2023 Reminder: Submissions Due May 15, 2023

Posted on May 8, 2023 by rtushnet

The Engelberg Center on Innovation Law & Policy will host this year’s Trademark and Unfair Competition Scholarship Roundtable. The Roundtable is designed to be a forum for the discussion of current trademark and right of publicity scholarship, covering a range … Continue reading →

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