Tag Archives: trademark

when is a law firm “national”? hub-and-spoke firm finds out

Posted on February 14, 2017 by rtushnet

Cochran Firm, P.C. v. Cochran Firm Los Angeles, LLP, 2016 WL 6023822, No. CV 12-5868 (C.D. Cal. Aug. 18, 2016) Previous 9th Circuit opinion affirming earlier unclean hands ruling discussed here. This case began with a legal partnership turned sour. … Continue reading →

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pool party: lawsuit raises survey and TM priority issues

Posted on February 14, 2017 by rtushnet

Solar Sun Rings, Inc. v. Secard Pools, 2016 WL 6138294, No. EDCV14-2417 (C.D. Cal. Jan. 20, 2016) Illustrating the principle that those who sue competitors should be sure to have their own house (or in this case, pool) in order: … Continue reading →

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calling a rival “imitation” is neither defamatory nor confusing

Posted on February 13, 2017 by rtushnet

Baltimore Sports & Social Club, Inc. v. Sport & Social, LLC, 2017 WL 526499, No. 16–cv–02953 (D. Md. Jan. 6, 2017)   BSSC logo Sport & Social logos BSSC initiated suit, claiming that Sport & Social’s use of the marks … Continue reading →

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WIPIP, part 2

Posted on February 10, 2017 by rtushnet

H. Brian Holland, We Are All Cyborgs Now: A Cognitive Theory of the Third-Party Doctrine Once upon a time there were categorical protectsion for private papers against search & seizure. Courts then ruled that personal property was no longer categorically … Continue reading →

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WIPIP part one

Posted on February 10, 2017 by rtushnet

Works-in-Progress Intellectual Property Colloquium Boston University School of Law Opening Plenary [missed beginning due to travel] Timothy K. Armstrong, Symbols, Systems, and Software as Intellectual Property: Time for CONTU, Part II? Functionality is still a problem. Altai seemed to work … Continue reading →

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Latest additions to my collection

Posted on February 7, 2017 by rtushnet

Etsy is a font of interesting objects, including dollhouse miniatures, handmade jewelry, and even soaps (which would make good party favors for IP events, just sayin’).  Transformative works? jewelry for teaching defenses by dollhouse miniatures handbag soaps closeup on Chanel … Continue reading →

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use of P’s jewelry in D’s ad is regular passing off, not reverse passing off

Posted on February 6, 2017 by rtushnet

Brighton Collectible, LLC v. Believe Production, Inc., 2017 WL 440255, No. 15-cv-00579 (C.D. Cal. Jan. 30, 2017) Brighton sued Believe for infringing Brighton’s copyright in a jewelry design and also engaging in false designation of origin/unfair competition.  In particular, Brighton … Continue reading →

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use of P’s jewelry in D’s ad is regular passing off, not reverse passing off

Posted on February 6, 2017 by rtushnet

Brighton Collectible, LLC v. Believe Production, Inc., 2017 WL 440255, No. 15-cv-00579 (C.D. Cal. Jan. 30, 2017) Brighton sued Believe for infringing Brighton’s copyright in a jewelry design and also engaging in false designation of origin/unfair competition.  In particular, Brighton … Continue reading →

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Advertising a phone with an unauthorized screenshot of an app doesn’t violate the Lanham Act under Dastar

Posted on February 3, 2017 by rtushnet

Appjigger GmbH v. BLU Products, Inc., 2016 WL 4119720, No. 15–22313 (S.D. Fla. Mar. 7, 2016) Appjigger makes apps, and has an exclusive license for the WP CLOCK software app, which is available both to end users and also for … Continue reading →

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Political ad isn’t commercial, can’t be basis of Lanham Act claim

Posted on February 2, 2017 by rtushnet

Nichols v. Club for Growth Action, No. 16-220, 2017 WL 420111 (D.D.C. Jan. 31, 2017) Club for Growth Action is a political organization that broadcast a 30-second political ad on Wisconsin television and the Internet in September 2015, challenging the … Continue reading →

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