43(B)log

OCTOBER 18, 2024

Defendants allegedly copied key components of Trackman’s copyrighted software and falsely suggested, in promotions and advertisements, that defendants were authorized to use the well-known courses in their game. Although the court dismissed a contract claim, copyright and false advertising claims survived.

False Advertising 52

False Advertising Contracts Advertising Advertising 52

43(B)log

MAY 13, 2024

Here, the city successfully wins remand (and a fee award) in this opinion rejecting removal of its false advertising suit against Exxon, other fossil fuel companies, and their top trade association for violations of New York City’s Consumer Protection Law. Following a similar case, Connecticut v.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Law 59

43(B)log

NOVEMBER 23, 2022

Lynd advertised the Product as effective against the coronavirus. Ultimately, AHBP took an exclusive license to sell the product in Argentina, with purchasing and advertising/marketing spend minimums. the Lanham Act false advertising claim survived. And proximate cause?

False Advertising 99

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Business 99

43(B)log

JULY 19, 2023

17, 2023) Another entry in the “courts treat Lanham Act false advertising very differently than Lanham Act trademark infringement, despite identical damages provisions” line. CareDx sued Natera for false advertising. Natera, Inc., 19-662-CFC, 2023 WL 4561059 (D. Natera made superiority claims for its Prospera.

False Advertising 97

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Marketing 97

43(B)log

DECEMBER 15, 2023

8, 2023) When does TM logic creep into false advertising cases? The screenshot was “commercial advertising or promotion.” On materiality, it sufficed to allege that brands pay for its services and Tundra’s false advertising influences brands to purchase Tundra’s services instead of Faire’s services. Tundra, Inc.,

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Branding 59

CoCal IP Law Institute

OCTOBER 17, 2024

Surviving a 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss and Making False Advertisements Please join us Monday, October 21, 2024, at noon where we will discuss two recent decisions made by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Alexsam, Inc. Aetna, Inc., 22-2036 (Fed. 2024) where the court found in favor of [.]

False Advertising 40

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Patent 40

JD Supra Law

JUNE 22, 2023

In a case originally based on a false advertising claim under § 43(a) of the Lanham Act, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded the district court’s dismissal of the claim. Enigma Software Group USA, LLC v. Malwarebytes, Inc., 21-16466 (9th Cir.

False Advertising 52

False Advertising Advertising Advertising 52

43(B)log

DECEMBER 22, 2023

As far as the Court can tell, … PIRG does no work addressing false or misleading labeling for bed sheets, textiles more generally, or even false advertising as a category. So what was the problem? The cy pres doctrine simply allows for a distribution that achieves those benefits indirectly.”

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Settlement 59

JD Supra Law

APRIL 25, 2024

Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit was tasked with excavating the truth behind claims of false advertising and copyright infringement. In a case that pitted two sellers of construction equipment against each other — I Dig Texas, LLC v. Creager — the U.S.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Copyright Infringement 59

43(B)log

OCTOBER 5, 2021

28, 2021) Mostly this case is about other things, but the court finds a duty to defend in the underlying false advertising case. Luxottica was sued in a class action alleging that its AccuFit system for prescription eyeglasses was falsely advertised as more accurate.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Privacy 59

43(B)log

APRIL 29, 2024

It advertised “This device was one of the most popular items on a popular 3D printing website with over 20,000 unique downloads” on its website, at a time when Leszczynski’s Thingiverse page displayed that his Cube had been downloaded 20,000 times. False advertising: Only ok against Kitchen Cube.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Copyright Infringement 59

43(B)log

DECEMBER 10, 2021

This allowed McCormick to advertise what seemed like an attractive lower price and charge more. Thus, for disgorgement of profits, a plaintiff need only show the defendant’s “sales of the allegedly falsely advertised products,” after which the burden shifts to the defendant to prove “any costs or deductions.” Edriver Inc.,

False Advertising 90

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Law 90

43(B)log

JANUARY 13, 2023

11, 2023) Plaintiff alleged that defendant MGD advertises and sells milk that is one hundred percent from cows outside of Hawai‘i. Plaintiffs’ claims sought to hold the dairy farmers directly or contributorily liable under the Lanham Act, and alleged unfair competition/false advertising/deceptive trade practices under Hawaii law.

False Advertising 98

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Designs 98

43(B)log

SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

14, 2021) Dawgs alleged that Crocs falsely marketed its shoes in violation of the Lanham Act by advertising Croslite, the foam material that Crocs shoes are made from, as “patented,” “proprietary,” and “exclusive.” Effervescent, Inc., 2021 WL 4170997, No. 06-cv-00605-PAB-KMT, No. 16-cv-02004-PAB-KMT (D.

False Advertising 83

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Invention 83

43(B)log

MARCH 16, 2023

Despite Romag , the court declines to award disgorgement or fees in this false advertising case. A jury found that Harbor Breeze proved all elements of liability for false advertising but awarded $0 in damages and profits. And they used the phrase “Feel the Harbor Breezes” in a pay-per-click advertisement on Google.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Litigation 59

43(B)log

JUNE 9, 2021

Carrier & Rebecca Tushnet, An Antitrust Framework for False Advertising , 106 Iowa L. 1841 (2021) From the introduction: Federal law presumes that false advertising harms competition. Federal law also presumes that false advertising is harmless or even helpful to competition. This makes no sense.

False Advertising 52

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Marketing 52

43(B)log

APRIL 18, 2023

12, 2023) Following a large verdict for Monster on false advertising claims, this opinion discusses extensively the requirements for injunctive relief in false advertising cases. But Defendants have brought on themselves these unfortunate consequences through their false advertising.”

False Advertising 72

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Social Media 72

43(B)log

DECEMBER 12, 2022

6, 2022) The district court reverses the bankruptcy court ruling ( discussed here ) that held that false advertising had interfered with the debtor’s estate in violation of the automatic stay. The back of the advertisement said, among other things, “Windstream’s future is unknown, but Spectrum is here to stay.”

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Contracts 59

43(B)log

JULY 8, 2024

2, 2024) Noriega alleged that Abbott’s PediaSure falsely advertised that it was “[c]linically proven to help kids grow.” Abbott Laboratories, F.Supp.3d 3d -, 2024 WL 402925, No. 4014 (PAE) (S.D.N.Y.

False Advertising 64

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Publishing 64

LexBlog IP

DECEMBER 19, 2023

Companies spend an immense amount of time on advertising and sending out messages to consumers. But can competitors turn that dislike into a claim for false advertising under the Lanham Act? Competitors often do not like or agree with those messages.

False Advertising 40

False Advertising Advertising Advertising IP 40

43(B)log

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

12, 2024) The court denied certification to a proposed class of dentists/orthodontists over SDC’s allegedly false advertising for its plastic aligners/teledentistry services, based on difficulties identifying harm/causation. Thus, causation/harm would predominate.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Reporting 59

Technology & Marketing Law Blog

SEPTEMBER 9, 2022

Also, there should not be a “use in commerce” when the advertiser (here, Troia) doesn’t actually offer any goods or services in the marketplace. As the court says later, “it seems unlikely that an Internet user who reads defendant’s advertisements would believe that they belong to or are endorsed by plaintiffs.”

False Advertising 109

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Trademark 109

43(B)log

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

30, 2024) (R&R) Recommendation: Dastar should block Qingdao’s Lanham Act false advertising counterclaims based on Lashify’s claim to be the originator of lash technology, but false patent marking counterclaims should survive. Qingdao Lashbeauty Cosmetic Co., 2024 WL 629985, No. W-22-CV-00776-ADA-DTG, No. 1, 2017 to Apr.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Patent 59

43(B)log

APRIL 25, 2023

Republic alleged that HBI, its competitor in the tobacco rolling paper industry, engaged in false advertising under the Lanham Act, unfair competition, and violations of the IUDTPA. Also, a company’s belief that its advertising is important and profitable “is not evidence that the advertising actually had that effect.”

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Law 59

43(B)log

JANUARY 13, 2023

But what about false advertising? Thus, Wolf didn’t plead the requisite “false statement of fact” in a “commercial advertisement.” An amended complaint would have to allege “how Defendants advertised their vehicle wraps such that they intended to pass off their wraps as Plaintiff’s.”

False Advertising 72

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Registration 72

43(B)log

APRIL 18, 2023

ZimVie intervened and counterclaimed for declaratory judgment of invalidity, cancellation fo the color marks registration, declaratory judgment of noninfringement, false advertising under the Lanham Act and California law, and tortious interference. ZimVie responded that the commercial speech exception applied.

False Advertising 72

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Licensing 72

Technology & Marketing Law Blog

DECEMBER 10, 2023

The court says that Amazon “easily satisfies” this factor: Plaintiff’s claims are all based on the theory that Defendants ‘continue to allow unlawful sellers to maintain their accounts’ and ‘permit them to advertise’ on Defendants’ website. This argument has failed so many times. Google opinion.

False Advertising 73

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Marketing 73

LexBlog IP

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

Universal City Studios, LLC , the United States District Court for the Central District of California refused to dismiss Woulfe’s false advertising claims, finding that a deceptive movie trailer can form the basis of false advertising claims and that trailers are not necessarily immune from suit by the First Amendment because trailers are commercial (..)

False Advertising 52

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Intellectual Property 52

43(B)log

APRIL 25, 2022

25, 2022) I know it probably seems sometimes like I approve of every expansive use of false advertising law, but sometimes even I find an aggressive position to go too far. It is enough if a defendant provides “a necessary product or service, without which the false advertising would not be possible.”

False Advertising 45

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Reporting 45

43(B)log

JUNE 29, 2023

Vitamins Online sued Heartwise under the Lanham Act and Utah’s Unfair Competition Law for false advertising about the ingredients of its competitive nutritional supplements and manipulating those products’ Amazon reviews. NatureWise’s products advertised that they met the same Dr. Oz-endorsed requirements. Heartwise, Inc.,

False Advertising 80

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Marketing 80

43(B)log

MAY 22, 2023

May 17, 2023) The court grants these timeshare plaintiffs’ motion for a bench trial, ruling that the Seventh Amendment doesn’t guarantee a jury trial in a false advertising case where the plaintiffs seek only equitable remedies. Timeshare Lawyers P.A., 2023 WL 3510374, No. 20-24681-Civ-Scola (S.D. Hard Candy, Ltd.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Law 59

43(B)log

MARCH 3, 2023

TRUSTID lost both patent infringement and Lanham Act false advertising claims. TRUSTID advertised that use of the Authenticator could lead to a 5–10 percent improvement in IVR containment rates, a measure of callers who can have their issues resolved by the automated system without having to speak to a live agent.”

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Patent Infringement 59

43(B)log

AUGUST 22, 2022

The statements were “commercial advertising meant to sell a product, and generally there ‘can be no constitutional objection to the suppression of commercial messages that do not accurately inform the public.’” The First Amendment has long coexisted with no-fault false advertising laws. The California Supreme Court reversed.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Artistic Work 59

43(B)log

AUGUST 25, 2022

22, 2022) The court here allows an antitrust claim to proceed based in part on allegedly false/misleading statements because they form part of the alleged anticompetitive product-hopping scheme and because the unique characteristics of the drug market make market-based responses to false advertising difficult.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Marketing 59

43(B)log

APRIL 29, 2022

22, 2022) Part of a larger dispute; the National Association of Realtors (NAR) counterclaimed against REX for false advertising in violation of the Lanham Act. However, NAR didn’t allege that any consumers or brokers have withheld trade from NAR as a result of the advertisements. Zillow, Inc., 2022 WL 1203742, No.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Technology 59

43(B)log

OCTOBER 29, 2021

27, 2021) Ideavillage sued CCB for trademark infringement and false designation of origin related to Ideavillage’s “Copper Fit” line of copper-infused compression garments. Here, the court granted leave to amend to add a false advertising claim. Materials revealed in discovery can support a finding of good cause.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Design 59

43(B)log

AUGUST 29, 2024

The presentations were plausibly “commercial advertising or promotion” even if described as “seminars” and “continuing education courses.” The Seventh Circuit has said that face to face communication isn’t “commercial advertising or promotion” [though query whether that makes any sense if there’s a repeated script].

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Technology 59