Author Archives: rtushnet

CA’s Prop 65 warning unconstitutional for acrylamide warnings for being scientifically overcertain

California Chamber of Commerce v. Becerra, 2021 WL 1193829, No. 2:19-cv-02019-KJM-EFB (E.D. Cal. Mar. 30, 2021) California allegedly compelled businesses to display misleading warnings about the dangers of acrylamide, a carcinogen. The Council for Education and Research on Toxics (CERT) … Continue reading

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trolling over gnomes–no, really–on Amazon

Shenzhen Tange Li’an E-Commerce Co. v. Drone Whirl LLC, 2021 WL 3474007, No. 1:20-CV-00738-RP (W.D. Tex. Aug. 6, 2021) (R&R) Shenzhen sought a declaratory judgment that a design patent for a toy gnome figurine was unenforceable and invalid, given that … Continue reading

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NYIPLA student writing competition

 The New York Intellectual Property Law Association (NYIPLA) is currently accepting submissions for the Hon. William C. Conner Intellectual Property Law Writing Competition. Further information can be found on: https://www.nyipla.org/nyipla/ConnerWritingAwards.asp. Award Name Hon. William C. Conner Writing Competition Award Provided by New … Continue reading

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false advertising & bankruptcy law: $18 million for deceptive campaign in violation of automatic stay

In re Windstream Holdings, Inc., 627 B.R. 32 (S.D.N.Y. 2021) Plaintiffs/Debtors argued, and the court held in relevant part, that defendants (Charter) breached the automatic stay by a literally false and intentionally misleading advertising campaign to induce the Debtors’ customers … Continue reading

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3 things that all mean the same thing: a slogan isn’t a TM for ad injury insurance purposes

Travelers Indemnity Co. v. Luna Gourmet Coffee & Tea Co., 2021 WL 1293314, No. 19-cv-02039-RM-NYW (D. Colo. Apr. 7, 2021) The underlying litigation involves class actions against coffee distributors, wholesalers, and retailers arising out of the allegedly misleading use of … Continue reading

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aiding and abetting liability in false advertising cases

 Bonus: Civil RICO claims survive! Sihler v. Fulfillment Lab, Inc., 2021 WL 1293839, No. 3:20-cv-01528-H-MSB (S.D. Cal. Apr. 7, 2021) Defendants allegedly used fake celebrity endorsements and reviews and misrepresentations about price and limited availability to induce consumers to buy … Continue reading

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prescription and OTC products can directly compete; many non-FDCA-based claims survive

Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC, 2021 WL 3417590, — F.Supp.3d —-, 2021 WL 3417590, No. 21-cv-01280-JST (N.D. Cal. Aug. 5, 2021) Scilex sells an FDA-approved, prescription-strength topical analgesic self-adhesive patch, ZTlido (lidocaine), which is allegedly often prescribed off-label, … Continue reading

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IPSC Panel 12 – Identity, Data, and Privacy

Dustin Marlan, The Dystopian Right of Publicity Privacy problems (surveillance) are often analogized to the dystopia of 1984; ROP problems stemming from infinite transferablility can be analogized to Brave New World (1932). A state of unfreedom that is apparently chosen … Continue reading

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IPSC Panel 9 – Crosscutting IP

Derek E. Bambauer, Everything You Want: The Paradox of Tailored IP Regimes Customized IP has benefits (avoids lowest common denominator [or highest] problem), but also costs: manipulation to shift from one regime to another; colleciton of information by decisionmakers. Standard … Continue reading

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IPSC Panel 5 – Copyright, Distribution, and Access

Jacob Victor, Copyright’s Law of Dissemination: trying to disaggregate dissemination from use of a work in new creativity/e.g., transformative fair use. Focus: liability exceptions and regulatory regimes that facilitate large scale distribution of works by direct distributors or via platforms … Continue reading

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