Technology & Marketing Law Blog

DECEMBER 14, 2022

If the clinic is falsely claiming that he is, that’s false advertising and possibly defamation. Potential irony alert: 50 Cent has taunted Diddy for getting botox … When, if ever, can a company share a photo of a customer/friend on social media without consent? Case Citation : Jackson v. The complaint.

Social Media 130

Social Media False Advertising Advertising Advertising 130

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. This was enough survive the motion to dismiss.

Copying 94

Copying False Advertising Social Media Advertising 94

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.” Despite Doe v. Case citation : Bride v.

False Advertising 105

False Advertising Social Media Publishing Advertising 105

43(B)log

DECEMBER 7, 2023

17, 2023) Super-interesting holding that, while there’s no patent field preemption against bringing false patent marking claims under the Lanham Act, Dastar (as expansively interpreted to cover false advertising claims) does preclude such claims, possibly only because of party argument. Dismissed with leave to amend.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Social Media 59

Copyright Lately

SEPTEMBER 29, 2024

A screenshot from the (now deleted) social media video at the center of the controversy. As for the business disparagement claim, State Farm argued that there was no malicious intent or false statement about Atari, and that the lighthearted tone of the ad didn’t suggest any serious defects in the company’s products.

Fair Use 106

Fair Use Copyright Artwork Social Media 106

43(B)log

NOVEMBER 6, 2023

Bluegreen sued a lot of entities, but only the marketing defendants remained in the case: their role was “to advertise timeshare exit services by promoting a legitimate process to exit timeshare contracts while protecting the customers’ credit.” In a particularly “yikes” bit, one marketing defendant 1990.

Marketing 59

Marketing Marketing False Advertising Advertising 59

43(B)log

OCTOBER 11, 2022

30, 2022) Pegasystems alleged that defendants, which compete with it in the business process management (BPM) software field, engaged in false advertising and commercial disparagement in an online report that portrayed Pegasystems unfavorably. Appian disseminated the report through its sales team, social media, and other marketing.

Marketing 59

Marketing Marketing Business False Advertising 59

The IPKat

JUNE 13, 2022

The non-fungible part means that it is something that has unique value based on the buyer’s sentiment and/or market dynamics. In practice, what this means is that a whole new market has been opened-up as NFTs have provided a system that has enabled the sale of digital items by transforming them into collectables, such as a tweet.

Non-Fungible Tokens 140

Non-Fungible Tokens Advertising Advertising Ownership 140

43(B)log

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

3, 2021) The parties compete in the market for custom landscape design services. “[I]n Natorp’s removed all of his photos from its website shortly after he complained, but the photos allegedly remained “online at various social media outlets including Natorp’s private website, Facebook, and Pinterest.” McCleese v. Natorp’s, Inc.,

Copying 64

Copying False Advertising Social Media Advertising 64

43(B)log

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

It submitted 14 social media posts “which it contends shows consumers and retailers attributed a particular source to Defendants’ liquor and Plaintiff’s television show.” False advertising/passing off: Same basic problems. And Mandabach failed to show actual association of the TV show with a particular source.

Social Media 93

Social Media Television False Advertising Artistic Work 93

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

Copyright Lately

MARCH 31, 2024

To make matters worse, State Farm’s resident do-gooder “Jake” lands a Fonzie-style smack on the Crystal Castles machine to get it working—”suggesting falsely and disparagingly to consumers that Atari’s cabinets are low-quality, faulty, and/or unreliable.”

Copyright 83

Copyright Fair Use Social Media Artwork 83

43(B)log

NOVEMBER 28, 2022

2, 2022) Before the jury verdict in favor of Monster’s false advertising claim was this opinion resolving evidentiary issues. They weren’t directly asked about the phrase “Super Creatine,” whether participants had prior experiences with or opinions of Bang, or whether they had seen Vital’s advertising in the market.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Social Media 59

43(B)log

APRIL 26, 2023

The parties compete in the market for skid steer attachments and other products. Creager sells Montana post drivers (made in China) that compete with the Texas post drivers sold by IDT (advertised as made in the USA). The parties had other disputes, including accusing each other of posting false reviews of the other.

Fair Use 64

Fair Use Advertising Advertising False Advertising 64

Technology & Marketing Law Blog

JUNE 4, 2024

The underlying legal principles are not complicated: content rules in TOSes are negative behavioral restrictions on authors’ conduct, not marketing or contractual promises to readers that such content will never appear on the site. YouTube appeared first on Technology & Marketing Law Blog. Google LLC , 2024 WL 2809371 (Cal.

Contracts 98

Contracts Design Designs Publishing 98

IP and Legal Filings

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

For example, social media has been widely discussing the impact of micro-plastics on the environment and contemplating methods to reduce its release. The objective is to mislead the consumers knowing well the marketability of this concept. Another pertinent aspect is the effect of its disposal to the environment.

Brands 98

Brands Branding Branding Trademark 98

43(B)log

JULY 25, 2024

Portkey sued for unfair competition/reverse passing off, false advertising, and trademark infringement under the Lanham Act, as well as related state-law claims. Venkateswaran, 2024 WL 3487735, No. 23-CV-5074 (JPO) (S.D.N.Y. Maybe companies can resurrect noncompetes by prohibiting uses of their trademarks in former employees’ resumes!

Trademark Law 59

Trademark Law Trademark False Advertising Law 59

Trademark and Copyright Law Blog

JANUARY 14, 2021

Advertising can take many forms, including statements about a company’s products on websites and social media platforms. In this 60-minute webinar, designed exclusively for in-house counsel, you will learn how you can protect your company against legal challenges based on its advertising practices.

Advertising 40

Advertising Advertising False Advertising Social Media 40

43(B)log

MARCH 10, 2023

Plaintiff WATL is allegedly the preeminent governing body and league for the sport of axe throwing and uses the trademark “WATL” to market and publicize the axe throwing league. 14, 2023) Plaintiffs sued defendants for state and federal trademark infringement and related claims. Toyota, 610 F.3d 3d at 1177.

Fair Use 69

Fair Use False Advertising Social Media Advertising 69

43(B)log

FEBRUARY 17, 2022

Was this commercial advertising or promotion? Elysium argued that Right of Assembly was “a marketing website for Tru Niagen for which ChromaDex pays commissions to Shelly Albaum for Tru Niagen customers referred through the website.” Thus, any false advertising claim would lie against Albaum, not [directly] against ChromaDex.

Advertising 80

Advertising Advertising False Advertising Marketing 80

43(B)log

JUNE 15, 2022

19, 2022) The parties compete in the market for energy drinks. VPX (Vital) makes BANG, which now contains creatyl-l-leucine (CLL), “a novel ingredient marketed under the trademark ‘Super Creatine.’ … Defendants claim that CLL is more stable and more bioavailable than other forms of creatine.” VPX definitely didn’t prove truth.

False Advertising 59

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Contracts 59

43(B)log

MARCH 28, 2024

Princeton insured Wonderland from 2016-2018 (with a broad exclusion for defamation, invasion of privacy, and various forms of advertising injury in the second year called the Exhibitions and Related Marketing Exclusion), and agreed to defend the club but reserved the right to deny insurance coverage.

Advertising 64

Advertising Advertising Settlement Contracts 64

43(B)log

OCTOBER 19, 2023

I’ll focus, as usual, on the false advertising bits and ignore the securities law parts. Another theory of harm came from allegations that the executive defendants and some of the promoter/influencer defendants were selling off their tokens as they promoted them, engaging in market manipulation.

Due Diligence 64

Due Diligence False Advertising Social Media Advertising 64

43(B)log

APRIL 25, 2023

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. Plaintiff (dba Whisker) sued defendant (dba Smarty Pear), its competitor in the market for automated, self-cleaning litter boxes. Purlife Brands, Inc., 2023 WL 3046592, No.

False Advertising 45

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Social Media 45

43(B)log

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

They alleged that defendants copied the program and infringed the patent, as well as engaged in a smear campaign against plaintiffs in an effort to steal market share in the pediatric orthopedic industry. I’m only going to discuss the false advertising aspects. They didn’t advertise any alternative or promote a specific product.

Advertising 45

Advertising Advertising Social Media False Advertising 45

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 45

Social Media False Advertising Advertising Advertising 45

43(B)log

JULY 15, 2024

As for the positivity of the ads, “consumer surveys in false advertising cases commonly display the challenged advertisement.” Nike’s complaints about the stimuli were also nitpicking; stimuli must merely roughly simulate market conditions. Cross-examination could address any deviation from market conditions.

False Advertising 69

False Advertising Brands Branding Branding 69

Technology & Marketing Law Blog

JUNE 12, 2022

A click fraud case against a competitor: Motogolf fails to state a false advertising claim under the Lanham Act. First, Motogolf does not plausibly allege that the defendants’ clicking activity constitutes commercial advertising. ” Arizona Board of Regents v. 21-16525 (9th Cir. May 13, 2022). Motogolf.com, LLC v.

Trademark 90

Trademark Advertising Advertising False Advertising 90

43(B)log

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

23, 2024) Plaintiffs alleged that defendants conspired to inflate the US News ranking of USC Rossier School of Education by submitting inaccurate or incomplete data to US News and market the resulting ranking to the public. As Plaintiffs note, if the law were otherwise, “any business that submits false information to get a certification.

Advertising 59

Advertising Advertising False Advertising Marketing 59

43(B)log

MARCH 21, 2024

Peacock alleged that Pabst violated consumer protection law by marketing “The Original Olympia Beer” as using naturally filtered, artisan water from Tumwater, Washington (a suburb of Olympia, Washington) “despite the product being brewed elsewhere in the country using lower quality water and brewing methods.” Pabst Brewing Co.,

Social Media 59

Social Media Marketing Marketing Design 59

43(B)log

JULY 6, 2022

Marketing Sales Practices & Prods. Plaintiffs moved to certify four classes of purchasers of JUUL products on “theories that defendants’ marketing of JUUL was unlawfully deceptive, JUUL was unlawfully marketed to youth, and JUUL products are not fit for ordinary use.” In Re Juul Labs, Inc., I don't even have a RICO tag!

Social Media 59

Social Media Marketing Marketing Advertising 59

43(B)log

MARCH 22, 2023

20, 2023) The parties compete in the supplement market using direct marketing, so compete in both consumer supplement sales and in sales representative recruitment. Usana incorporates the Guide into its marketing training. Usana characterizes payments to NutriSearch and MacWilliam as marketing expenses. Ariix LLC v.

Editing 59

Editing False Advertising Social Media Marketing 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 56

Television Social Media Advertising Advertising 56

43(B)log

OCTOBER 6, 2021

American Girl applied for trademarks on a space-themed doll named Luciana Vega, which it began marketing in 2018 as its “Girl of the Year” doll. 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.

Law 59

Law Privacy False Advertising Social Media 59

LexBlog IP

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

Kaira District Co-Operative Milk Producers’ Union Limited and Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. 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 also established trademark infringement.

False Advertising 40

False Advertising Social Media Trademark Brands 40

43(B)log

JUNE 27, 2024

Florida’s safe harbor didn’t apply because, although the TTB approved the Blue Ice label, the alleged misrepresentations appeared only on the secondary label and bottle collar, as well as the website/social media, none of which were approved by the TTB.

Advertising 64

Advertising Advertising Social Media Law 64

43(B)log

AUGUST 3, 2023

So too w/false advertising. Assumptions skipped over in TM/false advertising analysis.] Keep up with the culture by considering social media. It’s market definition. Death closes things off. Makes sense b/c consumer protection law’s goal is information safety and not vindicating rights of decedent.

Registration 52

Registration False Advertising Advertising Advertising 52