Tag Archives: defamation

Don’t sell a business and then keep running it

Posted on October 17, 2016 by rtushnet

Electrology Laboratory, Inc. v. Kunze, 169 F.Supp.3d 1119 (D. Colo. 2016) Larry Paul Kunze a/k/a Lorenzo Kunzel sold his family business, plaintiff ELI (d/b/a Rocky Mountain Laser College/RMLC), “but couldn’t give it up. So, as the evidence revealed, even while … Continue reading →

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Volunteer moderator plausibly alleged to be agent of ISP for 230 purposes

Posted on July 13, 2016 by rtushnet

Enigma Software Gp. USA LLC v. Bleeping Computer LLC, 16 CV 57 (S.D.N.Y. Jul. 8, 2016) Eric Goldman probably won’t like this decision holding that a volunteer moderator may be treated as the ISP’s agent when the ISP gives enough … Continue reading →

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Failure to show harm dooms many claims based on negative press release

Posted on January 6, 2016 by rtushnet

Synygy, Inc. v. ZS Associates, Inc., — F.Supp.3d —-, 2015 WL 5818510, No. 10-4274 (E.D. Pa. July 30, 2015)   Wow, this one’s been going on for a while.  Note that evidence of damages is key to the traditional, non-commercial-speech … Continue reading →

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is “this video has been removed for violating the ToS” commercial advertising?

Posted on December 7, 2015 by rtushnet

Darnaa, LLC v. Google, Inc., 2015 WL 7753406, No. 15-cv-03221 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 2, 2015)   Darnaa posted a music video, Cowgirl, to YouTube.  At one point, YouTube removed the video from its original location, later reposting it at a … Continue reading →

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Annotating competitor’s ad is fair use

Posted on October 26, 2015 by rtushnet

Miller UK Ltd. v. Caterpillar Inc., No. 10-cv-03770 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 21, 2015)   Miller sued Caterpillar for breach of a contractual restriction on the use of Miller’s confidential information, for trade secret misappropriation, and for fraudulent inducement. Caterpillar counterclaimed … Continue reading →

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Right of publicity workshop part 2

Posted on October 17, 2015 by rtushnet

How is the “right” to be reconciled with the First Amendment?     Could be part of the vast universe of communication that isn’t protected speech: Fred Schauer’s writing.  Contracts aren’t protected by 1A, etc.  Could just be market behavior. That … Continue reading →

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competition no longer required for Lanham Act “commercial advertising or promotion”

Posted on October 2, 2015 by rtushnet

Healthnow New York Inc. v. Catholic Health System, Inc., 2015 WL 5673123, No. 14–CV–986S (W.D.N.Y. Sept. 25, 2015)   Healthnow, aka Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Western New York (BCBS), sued Catholic Health for violations of the Lanham Act … Continue reading →

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Don’t send misappropriation to do copyright’s job

Posted on October 1, 2015 by rtushnet

Alaskasland.com, LLC v. Cross, No. S­15270 (Alaska Sept. 25, 2015)   A realtor group listed property adjacent to a neighboring subdivision, Susitna Shores, using three photos taken from the subdivision’s marketing materials, including one showing the subdivision’s stylized entrance sign.  … Continue reading →

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Court finds misleading omissions can deprive ISP of 230 protection

Posted on August 21, 2015 by rtushnet

General Steel Domestic Sales, LLC v. Chumley, No. 14-cv-01932, 2015 WL 4911585 (D. Colo. Aug. 18, 2015)   General Steel sued Chumley and Atlantic Building, of which he was CEO, for false advertising, libel, and intentional interference with prospective business … Continue reading →

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failure to show damage from accusation of falsity dooms counterclaims

Posted on June 4, 2015 by rtushnet

Cascade Yarns, Inc. v. Knitting Fever, Inc., 2015 WL 3407882, No. C10–861 (W.D. Wash. May 27, 2015) This five-year odyssey ends with a whimper.  Cascade and KFI sell luxury yarns; Cascade initially sued KFI for mislabeling the fiber content of … Continue reading →

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