Tag Archives: geographic indications

GIs can be indications of quality for purposes of applying failure-to-conform exclusion to advertising injury insurance policy

Posted on July 8, 2025 by rtushnet

Allied World Nat’l Assur. Co. v. NHC, Inc., 2025 WL 1852789, No. 22-00469 MWJS-WRP (D. Haw. Jul. 3, 2025) Nice to see good old-fashioned legal reasoning in these times. In the underlying lawsuit, class plaintiffs alleged that MNS falsely advertised … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Fajita followup: geographic origin as inherently contested concept

Posted on June 28, 2023 by rtushnet

 Yesterday’s post about what every reasonable consumer of Mexican food knows sparked some interest in my household. It’s not a new observation that Twiqbal‘s common sense can involve things that are not actually common sense to all reasonable people, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Mexican origin claims revitalized by survey

Posted on October 11, 2021 by rtushnet

Govea v. Gruma Corp., 2021 WL 4518457, No. CV 20-8585-MWF (JCx) (C.D. Cal. Aug. 18, 2021) Previous discussion. The amended complaint fares better: the tortilla packages at issue plausibly misrepresented Mexican origin. Plaintiffs added allegations that “[u]n pedacito de México” … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

“Oregon” wine bottled in California might be confusing

Posted on August 31, 2021 by rtushnet

Kay v. Copper Cane, LLC, — F.Supp.3d —-, 2021 WL 2953241, No. 20-cv-04068-RS (N.D. Cal. Jul. 14, 2021) Plaintiffs challenged the labels on a line of CC’s pinot noirs, alleging deception about the wine’s appellation of origin in Oregon generally … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Duelling results in Mexican origin cases

Posted on August 30, 2021 by rtushnet

Rodriguez v. Olé Mexican Foods Inc., 2021 WL 1731604, No. EDCV 20-2324 JGB (SPx) (C.D. Cal. Apr. 22, 2021) Rodriguez alleged that Olé’s La Banderita tortillas falsely advertised Mexican origin based on  a Mexican flag front and center on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on August 9, 2021 by rtushnet

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 →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Colorado labeling doesn’t dispel potential falsity of “Kona” for coffee

Posted on November 13, 2019 by rtushnet

Corker v. Costco Wholesale Corp., 2019 WL 5887340, No. C19-0290RSL (W.D. Wash. Nov. 12, 2019) Plaintiffs, coffee farmers in the Kona District of the Big Island of Hawaii, alleged that defendant Boyer’s falsely designates the geographic origin of its coffee … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Jaszi festschrift, Panel 1 – Traditional Knowledge

Posted on November 18, 2016 by rtushnet

Intellectual Property and the Public Interest: Toward a Festschrift for Peter A. Jaszi Boatema Boateng, “Tradition” and the Production of the Other in Intellectual Property Law Jaszi’s questioning of received wisdom of copyright law is a key influence.  How different … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Jaszi festschrift, Panel 1 – Traditional Knowledge

Posted on November 18, 2016 by rtushnet

Intellectual Property and the Public Interest: Toward a Festschrift for Peter A. Jaszi Boatema Boateng, “Tradition” and the Production of the Other in Intellectual Property Law Jaszi’s questioning of received wisdom of copyright law is a key influence.  How different … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment