Tag Archives: false advertising

literal falsity might not matter with sufficiently sophisticated customers

G. W. Aru, LLC v. W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn., No. JKB-22-2636, 2025 WL 45827 (D. Md. Jan. 7, 2025) I’m skipping most of the patent parts, though they are very much present in the case and interact with a … Continue reading

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“Target Clean” might certify specific qualities to reasonable consumers

Boyd v. Target Corp., — F.Supp.3d —-, 2024 WL 4287669, No. 23-CV-02668 (KMM/DJF) (D. Minn. Sept. 25, 2024) This interesting lawsuit relies on Target’s curatorial reputation for the false advertising claim. Target is headquartered in Minnesota and plaintiffs sought to … Continue reading

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“pure” chocolate may be deceptive if it has too much heavy metal

In re Theos Dark Chocolate Litigation, 2024 WL 4336631, No. 23-cv-02739-HSG, — F.Supp.3d —- (N.D. Cal. Sept. 27, 2024) Plaintiffs alleged that Theo’s dark chocolate bars contained, or risked containing, the heavy metals cadmium, lead, and arsenic at levels exceeding … Continue reading

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Reading list: The Patterns of Digital Deception, Gregory Dickinson

B.C.L.R. (2024). From the introduction: … In contrast with the mass emails of old, scammers now stalk and target their victims with expert precision. … To bolster the FTC’s traditional, case-by-case approach to combating unfair competition, lawmakers have proposed (and in … Continue reading

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false advertising claim survives because math is hard for reasonable consumers

Robertson v. Clean Control Corp., No. 5:24-cv-01478-SSS-DTBx, 2024 WL 5193852 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 18, 2024) Robertson bought Odoban, a concentrated multi-purpose cleaning product, which states “Makes up to 32 Gallons” on the front label. That principally describes Odoban as a … Continue reading

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Celebration on Rimini Street as it achieves significant (c)/Lanham Act victories in 9th Circuit

Oracle Int’l Corp. v. Rimini Street, Inc., — F.4th —-, No. 23-16038, 2024 WL 5114449 (9th Cir. Dec. 16, 2024) Rimini Street gets a reasonably substantial victory in its long-running battle with Oracle in this appeal. Prior rulings held that … Continue reading

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individual pitches/RFPs are advertising/promotion, but not user support/FAQ pages

Spotlight Ticket Management, Inc. v. Concierge Live LLC, No. 2:24-cv-00859-WLH-SSC, 2024 WL 4866813 (C.D. Cal. Aug. 30, 2024) Spotlight provides ticket and event management enterprise solutions. It entered into an exclusive agreement with Ticketmaster, a ticket sales and distribution company, … Continue reading

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omitting serving size on package front may mislead if dosage suggests per-gummy dose

Tarvin v. Olly Pub. Ben. Corp., 2024 WL 4866271, — F.Supp.3d —-, No. 2:24-cv-06261-WLH-PD (C.D. Cal. Nov. 12, 2024) Olly makes dietary supplements, e.g., “Sleep Extra Strength Melatonin 5 mg.” Each product includes the dosage amount and the net quantity … Continue reading

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coordinated campaign to disparage grain-free & other pet food not actionable under Lanham Act

Ketonatural Pet Foods, Inc. v. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., 2024 WL 4679219, No. 24-2046-KHV (D. Kan. Nov. 4, 2024) Ketonatural is a start-up that sells grain-free pet food, treats, and supplements. Hill’s is a large pet food company that makes … Continue reading

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Timeshare company’s own “exit” program for “qualified” owners isn’t misleading even if broadly unavailable

Wesley Financial Gp. v. Westgate Resorts, Ltd., 2024 WL 4581512, No. 6:23-cv-2347-RBD-LHP (M.D. Fla. Aug. 28, 2024) A rare timeshare exit company lawsuit against a timeshare developer, alleging false advertising and related claims. It’s unsuccessful but points to practices that … Continue reading

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