Tag Archives: secondary liability

unauthorized sale of model’s photos leads to internally inconsistent TM/ROP ruling

Posted on March 9, 2018 by rtushnet

Passelaigue v. Getty Images (US), Inc., 2018 WL 1156011, No. 16-CV-1362 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 1, 2018) Elodie Passelaigue is a professional fashion model who sued under the Lanham Act, Washington state law, and New York law against Getty, Bill Diodato Photography, … Continue reading →

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Purple haze: court declines to recognize contributory false advertising claim

Posted on July 28, 2017 by rtushnet

Purple Innovations, LLC v. Honest Reviews, LLC, No. 2:17-cv-138, 2017 WL 3172810 (D. Utah Jul. 25, 2017) Mostly a jurisdiction case, but defendant GhostBed also successfully moved to dismiss Purple Innovations’ claim for contributory false association and false advertising.  Although … Continue reading →

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LiveJournal’s missteps threaten its DMCA protection

Posted on April 10, 2017 by rtushnet

Mavrix Photographs, LLC v. LiveJournal Inc., No. 14-56596 (9th Cir. April 7, 2017) Initial note: What the court here describes as LJ’s business model is in reality limited to its treatment of ONTD, the most popular community on LJ.  Most … Continue reading →

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Who’s responsible for allegedly false, concealed endorsement deals?

Posted on March 20, 2017 by rtushnet

Woodard v. Labrada, 2017 WL 1018307, — F. Supp. 3d —, No. 16-00189 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 10, 2017) I discussed this case before.  Woodard alleged misrepresentations about the effectiveness of weight loss supplements, specifically the Labrada Garcinia Cambogia Dual Action … Continue reading →

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allegedly false generic claims not actionable, but contributory liability possible

Posted on March 20, 2017 by rtushnet

Concordia Pharm. Inc., S.À.R.L. v. Winder Laboratories, LLC, 16-CV-00004 (N.D. Ga. Mar. 15, 2017) Concordia makes Donnatal to treat irritable bowel syndrome and acute enterocolitis.  (There’s related litigation that ended badly for the defendant there.)  Concordia’s predecessor had conditional approval … Continue reading →

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allegedly false generic claims not actionable, but contributory liability possible

Posted on March 20, 2017 by rtushnet

Concordia Pharm. Inc., S.À.R.L. v. Winder Laboratories, LLC, 16-CV-00004 (N.D. Ga. Mar. 15, 2017) Concordia makes Donnatal to treat irritable bowel syndrome and acute enterocolitis.  (There’s related litigation that ended badly for the defendant there.)  Concordia’s predecessor had conditional approval … Continue reading →

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Court won’t hear false advertising and contributory liability claims based on tinnitus credentialing

Posted on February 24, 2017 by rtushnet

Academy of Doctors of Audiology v. International Hearing Society, 2017 WL 679354, No. 16-13839 (E.D. Mich. Feb. 21, 2017) IHS held a training program on tinnitus care in Orlando, Florida, stating that it would provide a “Tinnitus Care Provider Certificate” … Continue reading →

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Amazon escapes liability for ads & emails touting vendors’ infringing products

Posted on January 31, 2017 by rtushnet

Lasoff v. Amazon.com Inc, 2017 WL 372948, No. C16-151 (W.D. Wash. Jan. 26, 2017) Lasoff owns Ingrass, which sells artificial turf and related products.  He sold through Amazon, but in 2013 his sales allegedly began to plummet, both on his … Continue reading →

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Direct, secondary liability under Lanham Act for statements targeted at foreign markets

Posted on October 31, 2016 by rtushnet

Operation Technology, Inc. v. Cyme International T & D Inc., No. SACV 14-00999,  2016 WL 6246806 (C.D. Cal. Mar. 31, 2016) Plaintiff (ETAP) alleged that defendants (CYME, IPET-CO, and Amir Aslani) violated the Lanham Act via pseudononymous, disparaging remarks made … Continue reading →

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Spy Phone v. spy phone: Google loses motion to dismiss TM and other claims

Posted on October 18, 2016 by rtushnet

Spy Phone Labs LLC. v. Google Inc., No. 15-cv-03756, 2016 WL 6025469 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 14, 2016) The plaintiff here, an app maker with a registered mark for Spy Phone for a monitoring app, squeaks past dismissal of its trademark … Continue reading →

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