Tag Archives: right of publicity

WIPIP Session 1: AI

Posted on February 2, 2024 by rtushnet

Nikola Datzov, Can AI Keep a (Trade) Secret? We’ve funneled IP protection for AI generated inventions/information to trade secrecy w/o patent or copyright for human authors/inventors. But it’s narrow protection b/c there are no choices. How can we trust AI … Continue reading →

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using testimonials post-relationship failure can be a ROP problem

Posted on December 7, 2023 by rtushnet

McCandless Group, LLC v. COY Collective, Inc., No. LA CV 21-02069-DOC-KES, 2023 WL 8351525 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 23, 2023) The individual defendants co-founded COY in 2019 to provide creator clients with a platform to offer subscription services. COY hired MG … Continue reading →

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Artistic Expression or Crass Commercialism? Drawing the lines in Right of Publicity, Lanham Act, and Commercial Speech Cases

Posted on November 8, 2023 by rtushnet

PLI Media Law conference RT: There’s been a rapid and somewhat disorienting shift from a seemingly ever-growing First Amendment freedom of speech to a seeming indifference to speech and press based claims (as contrasted to religious freedom claims) in many … Continue reading →

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IPSC Breakout Session #1

Posted on August 3, 2023 by rtushnet

Too much to choose from; I prioritized things that were new to me. Mark Bartholomew, A Right to Be Left Dead If we can create new works in a dead author’s style after they’re gone and create conversations with them … Continue reading →

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Advertising injury policy’s IP exclusion means ROP claims aren’t covered

Posted on June 26, 2023 by rtushnet

Covington Specialty Insurance Company v. Omega Restaurant & Bar, LLC, — F.Supp.3d —-, 2023 WL 2720805, No. 2:21-cv-247 (E.D. Va. Mar. 30, 2023) This is fallout from one of the many right of publicity etc. lawsuits against clubs for advertising … Continue reading →

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Second Circuit signals some minimal flexibility on Polaroid analysis in another strip club false endorsement case

Posted on May 22, 2023 by rtushnet

Souza v. Exotic Island Enters., Inc., 2023 WL 3556053, No. 21-2149-cv, — F.4th —- (2d Cir. May 19, 2023) Whereas the timeshare false advertising cases might be making law largely applicable to other timeshare cases, what’s going on in the … Continue reading →

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Classmates.com, the right of publicity, and copyright preemption

Posted on November 2, 2021 by rtushnet

Callahan v. PeopleConnect, Inc., 2021 WL 5050079, No. 20-cv-09203-EMC (N.D. Cal. Nov. 1, 2021) Plaintiffs in this putative class action alleged that PeopleConnect misappropriated their names, photographs, and likenesses and used the same in advertising its products and services, “including … Continue reading →

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False endorsement remains broader than many state ROP laws

Posted on October 6, 2021 by rtushnet

Walkowicz v. American Girl Brands, LLC, 2021 WL 510729, No. 20-cv-374-jdp (W.D. Wis. Feb. 11, 2021) Lucianne Walkowicz “has achieved a measure of celebrity as an astronomer,” and contended that  defendants misappropriated distinctive aspects of their personal identity into a … Continue reading →

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USC IP year in review, TM/ROP

Posted on October 4, 2021 by rtushnet

 My presentation, galloping across a bunch of developments. Slides here. Begin with legislative action: Trademark Modernization Act, Which introduces three of the big themes of the year: (1) trademark use, (2) the harm of infringement, and (3) the role of … Continue reading →

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Robinhood’s newsletter isn’t commercial advertising

Posted on August 31, 2021 by rtushnet

Jackson v. Robinhood Markets, Inc., 2021 WL 2435307, No. 21-cv-02304-LB (N.D. Cal. Jun. 15, 2021) Jackson, known professionally as Ice Cube, sued after Robinhood used his image and a paraphrase of a line from his song “Check Yo Self” to … Continue reading →

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