Tag Archives: false advertising

in a Lanham Act (false advertising) case, presumptions cannot substitute for Article III injury

TocMail, Inc. v. Microsoft Corp., — F.4th —-, 2023 WL 3070085, No. 22-10223 (11th Cir. Apr. 25 2023) Previous district court opinion allowing Lanham Act false advertising claims to proceed against Microsoft; applying the Article III analysis that doesn’t (yet?) … Continue reading

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using competitor’s images in comparative advertising is fair use even when appearance isn’t being compared

 I Dig Texas, LLC v. Creager Servs., LLC, 2023 WL 3066119, No. 22-CV-0097-CVE-JFJ (N.D. Okla. Apr. 24, 2023) “This case arises out of alleged misuse of copyrighted images, eventually leading to a dispute … that resulted in false business reviews, … Continue reading

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no disgorgement under state law when false advertising wasn’t shown to result in sales

Republic Technologies (NA), LLC v. BBK Tobacco & Foods, LLP, 2023 WL 3004625, No. 16 C 03401 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 19, 2023) Previous discussion. A jury found that defendant HBI engaged in unfair competition and violated the Illinois Uniform Deceptive … Continue reading

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“Margarita Hard Seller” with no tequila isn’t deceptive

Warren v. Coca-Cola Co., 2023 WL 3055196, No. 22-CV-6907 (CS) (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 21, 2023) Defendant makes Topo Chico “Margarita Hard Seltzer.” It doesn’t have any tequila in it, though it is made with agave sugars. The front label contains the … Continue reading

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hashtags are plausibly infringing; sales claims plausibly false based on P’s own history of sales

Automated Pet Care Prods., LLC v. Purlife Brands, Inc., 2023 WL 3046592, No. 22-cv-04261-VC (N.D. Cal. Apr. 21, 2023) In two opinions on the same day, the court dealt with various IP/false advertising claims brought by one litter box seller … Continue reading

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fake meat law reinstated on appeal: intentionally misleading commercial speech gets no protection

Turtle Island Foods, S.P.C. v. Strain, No. 22-30236 (5th Cir. Apr. 12, 2023) Reversing the district court, the court of appeals found that Tofurkey’s facial challenge to a Louisiana anti-fake meat law failed because the law plausibly could be read … Continue reading

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paying a referral fee is a consumer injury, not a competitor injury, for Lanham Act standing purposes

Lewis v. Acuity Real Estate Services, LLC, 63 F.4th 1114 (6th Cir. 2023) Acuity operates a website that connects people looking to buy or sell homes with a local real-estate agent in their area. Acuity offers its services for free … Continue reading

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Press release touting preliminary injunction can found false advertising counterclaims

Zest Anchors, LLC v. Geryon Ventures, LLC, 2023 WL 2903668, No. 22-CV-230 TWR (NLS) (S.D. Cal. Apr. 10, 2023) Zest sued defendants for trademark/trade dress infringement, alleging that defendants’ DESSLoc suite of denture attachment products infringed the trademarks and trade … Continue reading

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Monster wins permanent injunction against VPX in false advertising case

Monster Energy Co. v. Vital Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2023 WL 2918724, No. EDCV 18-1882 JGB (SHKx) (C.D. Cal. Apr. 12, 2023) Following a large verdict for Monster on false advertising claims, this opinion discusses extensively the requirements for injunctive relief in … Continue reading

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timeshare exit firm wins fee award where plaintiff failed to show key elements of claim

Club Exploria, LLC v. Aaronson, Austin, P.A., 2022 WL 19479011, No 6:18-cv-576-JA-DCI (M.D. Fla. Nov. 4, 2022) (R&R) “[F]ew parties are as adversarial—or as litigious—as timeshare developers and timeshare exit companies.” Plaintiffs, timeshare developers, sued defendants, a timeshare exit law … Continue reading

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