Category Archives: http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post

Using up most of settlement fund shows settlement is reasonable

Larsen v. Trader Joe’s Co., No. 11-cv-05188, 2014 WL 3404531 (N.D. Cal. July 11, 2014) This is a final settlement approval of claims based on products labeled “All Natural” or “100% Natural,” when they allegedly contained synthetic ingredients.  The settlement … Continue reading

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on Thursdays, we’re teddy bear doctors

The Hollywood Reporter on a lawsuit alleging infringement by the 2012 film Ted of a foul-mouthed teddy bear character that lives with humans.  This post brought to you by a reminder that Supernatural did it in 2008: Yes, this is … Continue reading

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Reading list: food law

Regent University’s law review had a symposium on food law.  Here are the resulting articles, essentially all about advertising/disclosures: Foreword: Food Law and Its Place at the Legal Academy Michael T. Roberts Defining Natural Foods: The Search for a Natural … Continue reading

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Twiqbal kills consumer class action in 2d Circuit

DiMuro v. Clinique Laboratories, LLC, — Fed.Appx. —-, 2014 WL 3360586, No. 13–4551 (2d Cir. July 10, 2014) The Second Circuit quickly affirms the dismissal of a putative consumer class action based on Clinique’s marketing of seven different “Repairwear” cosmetics. … Continue reading

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Amended aggravation: Garcia v. Google

Never say an opinion (previously discussed here) can’t get worse. The amended opinion in Garcia v. Google manages that feat: Nothing we say today precludes the district court from concluding that Garcia doesn’t have a copyrightable interest, or that Google … Continue reading

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When all you have is a Captain Hammer …

The costumed performers who importune passersby in Times Square are not universally beloved.  Via the WSJ comes this suggestion for getting rid of them: State Sen. Brad Hoylman, whose district includes Times Square, said the companies that created the characters … Continue reading

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Purpose-transformativeness versus content-transformativeness

In 2008, Tony Reese presciently told us that the case law on fair use “transformativeness” showed a trend towards favoring transformative purpose over transforming content, so that exact reproduction could have a very good shot at fair use.  Today’s example, … Continue reading

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Deceptive whiskey?

The Whiskey Reviewer announces a series evaluating the marketing claims of various whiskeys. What I found quite striking was that the claims of interest were very much centered around “authenticity,” both in production and in narrative: Potemkinism: Does the company run … Continue reading

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NY statutory law covers B2B false advertising, but common law unfair competition doesn’t

Leason Ellis LLP v. Patent & Trademark Agency LLC, No. 13 CV 2880 (S.D.N.Y. July 2, 2014) Leason Ellis (of Trademark Blog fame) sued PTA for false advertising, unfair competition, deceptive business practices, and tortious interference with prospective economic relations. … Continue reading

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AU Gender/IP call for papers

The Women and the Law Programand the Program on Information Justice & Intellectual Property American University Washington College of Law  Call for Papers: Eleventh Annual IP/Gender Symposium Save the Date: Friday February 27, 2015 This year, we will engage in a … Continue reading

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