43(B)log

APRIL 25, 2023

Purlife Brands, Inc., 21, 2023) In two opinions on the same day, the court dealt with various IP/false advertising claims brought by one litter box seller against another. Motion to dismiss denied as to trademark infringement, false designation of origin, and unfair competition claims based on the use of Smarty Pear’s hashtags.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Social Media 59

Technology & Marketing Law Blog

JANUARY 19, 2023

A couple of specifics: The false advertising claims don’t escape 230: “Had those third-party users refrained from posting harmful content, Plaintiffs’ claims that Defendants falsely advertised and misrepresented their applications’ safety would not be cognizable.” ICS Provider. Despite Doe v.

False Advertising 86

False Advertising Social Media Publishing Advertising 86

43(B)log

MAY 22, 2023

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 strip club advertising cases might have somewhat broader implications. The district court concluded that plaintiffs’ false endorsement claims were foreclosed by Electra v.

Social Media 49

Social Media False Advertising Advertising Advertising 49

43(B)log

AUGUST 17, 2021

Facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs: Each of the plaintiffs has a significant number of followers on various social media platforms, ranging from greater than ten thousand to several million, and most are “considered social media influencers.” The court was guided by Electra v. 59 Murray Enterprises, Inc.,

Social Media 59

Social Media False Advertising Advertising Advertising 59

IP and Legal Filings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

This has led to consumers opting for brands that pledge their duty to contributing towards environmental protection by means of minimalism and sustainability. In today’s era of eco-branding, wherein trademarks are used to distinguish sustainable brands from the mainstream commercial ones, the latter engage in the practise of “greenwashing”.

Branding 81

Branding Brands Branding Trademark 81

43(B)log

JUNE 21, 2023

5, 2023) Hicks alleged that defendant, a California agricultural corporation, misrepresented the environmental impact of its farming practices through its advertising and “Inaugural Report on Environmental, Social and Governance Actions.” As such, the ESG Report promotes Defendant’s products and its brand more generally.”

Law 72

Law Social Media Reporting Business 72

IP and Legal Filings

MAY 13, 2023

Using the name or image of a celebrity for brand advertisement or promotion in the US does not always attract liability, provided the brand is not falsely misleading the public that the celebrity endorses the product. Spelling-Goldberg Prods., In Gautam Gambhir v. D.A.P & Co. &

Personality Rights 86

Personality Rights Privacy Trademark Law False Advertising 86

The IPKat

JUNE 13, 2022

Despite the uncertainty around the long-term success of NFTs, we have certainly seen a “land grab” from brands filing trade marks, including ITV (for LOVE ISLAND), Heineken and even The Empire State Building [Katpost with details from Becky Knott here ].

Non-Fungible Tokens 140

Non-Fungible Tokens Advertising Advertising Ownership 140

43(B)log

MARCH 18, 2022

4, 2022) Mosafer, a travel business that “aligns its branding with the State of Qatar,” sued several defendants for making public statements allegedly disparaging the State of Qatar and harming the Mosafer parties’ brand, which is closely aligned with the country.

Law 59

Law False Advertising Social Media Branding 59

43(B)log

APRIL 26, 2022

Painaway advertised its products as “Australia’s No. 1 Joint & Muscle Spray and Cream Topical Pain Relief Brand” on: (1) its Australian website; (2) social media; and (3) Ultimate Fighting Championship (“UFC”) athletes’ clothing in matches televised in the United States.

Television 72

Television Social Media Advertising Advertising 72

43(B)log

FEBRUARY 17, 2022

Elysium’s expert, Sowers, tested the allegation that ChromaDex advertising deceived customers into believing that the FDA reviewed ChromaDex’s product, Tru Niagen, for efficacy. Respondents were never shown an advertising statement conveying the control message.” As a general matter, “[e]rrors in methodology.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Social Media 59

LexBlog IP

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

Kaira’s brand AMUL is internationally renowned and India’s largest food brand. The Defendants were advertising, marketing and selling milk products in Canada through LinkedIn in association with the trademark AMUL and claiming to be Kaira. Kaira is based in India, has been in operation since 1946 and has over 3.2

False Advertising 40

False Advertising Social Media Trademark Branding 40

43(B)log

AUGUST 3, 2023

So too w/false advertising. Advertising: false endorsement potential. Actors’ strike is in part about who controls past performances if they’re being used to populate new media productions? Assumptions skipped over in TM/false advertising analysis.] Protecting brand investment and consumers?

Registration 52

Registration False Advertising Advertising Advertising 52

43(B)log

FEBRUARY 24, 2024

A variant of separating the mark from the brand; not seeing it in all categories, and we may have a world in which some marks—maybe the 1%--are not divided from brands but the others are. Brands can choose to “gate” on Amazon with authorization letters, but how does the consumer know the seller will stick to selling genuine goods?

Fair Use 45

Fair Use Branding Brands Branding 45

43(B)log

OCTOBER 6, 2021

American Girl Brands, LLC, 2021 WL 510729, No. Walkowicz allegedly received multiple emails and social-media messages commenting on the similarities between Walkowicz and Luciana and inquiries about whether they had endorsed the doll. Not to mention that “dilution” is not the same thing as false endorsement! Walkowicz v.

Law 59

Law Privacy False Advertising Social Media 59

43(B)log

DECEMBER 1, 2022

An online article used photos of the Lounge in its coverage of the series, and MGFB also submitted social media posts. Plaintiffs’ social media expert opined that the show meant that Internet searches for “Florabama” or “Flora-Bama” led to “blurred” results filled with MTV Floribama Shore content.

Artistic Work 64

Artistic Work Television Trademark Trademark Law 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. The court rejected Axon’s argument that LHB could have identified its products by calling them CEWs; they were Taser brand products.

False Advertising 52

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Social Media 52

SpicyIP

DECEMBER 30, 2023

This rejection order passed consequent to a pre-grant opposition was among the many other legal and social campaigns against the high prices at which the drug was made available. Doing this was regarded as essential to avoid stifling local industry and balance global brand reputation with the interests of national enterprises and consumers.

IP 124

IP Copyright Trademark Intellectual Property 124

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. Court can’t seem to figure out how to handle that duality between pure information and brand value.

False Advertising 75

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Trademark 75

43(B)log

FEBRUARY 3, 2023

Alex Roberts, Multi-Level Lies Marketing and advertising claims made by laypeople selling through MLMs. Social media influencers seem reasonably held liable, but what about when the seller is texting friends. Lemley: is/should there be contributory false advertising liability? Web of federal and state regulation.

False Advertising 45

False Advertising Trademark Advertising Advertising 45

43(B)log

OCTOBER 4, 2021

For about a decade, courts had realized that IIC had gone way too far, and had expanded liability in ways that didn’t protect consumers and facilitated anticompetitive claims about false advertising. The court or appeals also commented that relying on IIC might change the available damages and relief—but how exactly?

IP 94

IP Trademark Advertising Advertising 94

LexBlog IP

MARCH 1, 2022

Last month, as part of BakerHostetler’s “Look Back, Look Ahead: Advertising and Marketing Law in 2021 & 2022” webinar series, partners Craig A. Ultimately, the California enforcers reached a financial settlement with the clothing brand that includes injunctive terms governing future conduct. Takeaway No.

Social Media 52

Social Media Privacy Advertising Advertising 52