43(B)log

APRIL 26, 2023

Creager sells Montana post drivers (made in China) that compete with the Texas post drivers sold by IDT (advertised as made in the USA). IDT created an ad for its products using two images of Montana post drivers for which Creager later obtained a copyright registration. There’s more, including public disputes on Craigslist.

Fair Use 64

Fair Use Advertising Advertising False Advertising 64

43(B)log

JULY 21, 2023

but also narrows the issues somewhat; the larger infringement, cybersquatting, and false advertising claims can’t be resolved on summary judgment. Even if they were generic uses, two articles and one opinion weren’t sufficient to overcome the “strong presumption” of validity of a registered mark. But is it a nominative fair use?

False Advertising 52

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Social Media 52

43(B)log

MARCH 10, 2023

First, nominative fair use permits only the “truthful use of a mark.” Use of the mark with the words “compliant,” “legal,” and “meets. Toyota, 610 F.3d 3d at 1177. Defendants contended that one axe “meet[s] WATL Regulations” and that another “meets WATL Regulations with a slight modification that is commonly made.”

Fair Use 69

Fair Use False Advertising Social Media Advertising 69

Copyright Lately

MARCH 31, 2024

Video game publisher Atari Interactive has launched a copyright infringement lawsuit against State Farm, claiming that the insurer improperly appropriated artwork from Atari’s 1983 arcade game “Crystal Castles” for an advertising campaign as part of a “cynical plot” to resonate with fickle millennial and Gen Z consumers.

Copyright 78

Copyright Fair Use Social Media Artwork 78

43(B)log

MAY 19, 2023

WowWee’s Vice President of Brand Development & Creative Strategy, Sydney Wiseman, used her WowWee email address to create a Roblox user account and used her Roblox account to promote My Avastars dolls on social media, including videos on her TikTok account.

Copying 94

Copying False Advertising Social Media Advertising 94

43(B)log

MAY 2, 2022

28, 2022) Chanel sued What Goes Around Comes Around (WGACA), alleging trademark infringement, false advertising, false association/endorsement, and related NY GBL claims for deceptive/unfair trade practices and false advertising. Until 2017, it also used the hashtag #WGACACHANEL in its social media posts.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Social Media 59

43(B)log

NOVEMBER 8, 2023

Malwarebytes, which allowed a false advertising claim to proceed based on one software provider’s use of the terms “malicious” and “threat” to describe its alleged competitor’s software, despite a dissent raising free speech arguments. Then I’ll talk about the 9 th Circuit case Enigma Software v.

False Advertising 75

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Trademark 75