Trademark Law

Jones Day and digital rights group face off in war of words over Detroit bankruptcy parody site

When Jones Day learned a parody site was mocking a former law firm bankruptcy attorney’s work as the city of Detroit’s emergency manager, counsel for the 2,500-attorney law firm apparently was not amused. In a June 10 cease-and-desist letter (PDF), the firm warned the owner of the kevynorr.com site via…

Jun 27, 2014 2:52 PM CDT

Washington Redskins team loses trademark registration

Six trademarks associated with the Washington Redskins must be canceled because the name is disparaging to Native Americans, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board has ruled. The team is likely to appeal the ruling, the Washington Post reports. Politico and USA Today also have coverage. Even if the team loses…

Jun 18, 2014 2:54 PM CDT

Hershey’s candy sues state senator Hershey over his campaign signs

The Hershey Co. has sued Maryland State Sen. Stephen Hershey Jr. in a bid to get him to stop using campaign signs said to resemble the candy maker’s chocolate bar packaging. The signs feature the state senator’s name in large block letters over a two-tone brown Maryland flag, the Baltimore…

Jun 11, 2014 12:57 PM CDT

A sweet federal court ruling for Mister Softee owners doesn’t prevent Master Softee ice cream sales

For the past decade, attorney Jeff Zucker says he has never lost a case on behalf of a client whose family began selling ice cream in 1956 from what is now an 18-state fleet of some 600 Mister Softee trucks. And, so far, his latest litigation, against a former franchisee…

Jun 10, 2014 2:55 PM CDT

Famed ‘Mockingbird’ author Harper Lee settles suit against hometown museum

A federal lawsuit by the author of To Kill a Mockingbird against a museum in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, has apparently been settled. Although terms are confidential, the case was dismissed Thursday at the request of the parties and Monroe County Heritage Museum is no longer using the title…

Jun 6, 2014 3:00 PM CDT

Akin Gump withdraws from case after winning $25M jury verdict, says client admitted evidence issues

After winning a verdict of nearly $25 million in a federal trade secrets case earlier this year, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has filed a motion to withdraw from its representation of LBDS Holding Company, LLC. Noting that it is unusual to do so after a favorable jury verdict…

May 22, 2014 3:57 PM CDT

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ author Harper Lee wants to reinstate lawsuit against hometown museum

Harper Lee, author of the iconic trial novel To Kill a Mockingbird, wants to reinstate a federal lawsuit she had earlier agreed to settle. Lee’s suit, against the Monroe County Heritage Museum in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, alleged that the institution was profiting from using her name and the…

May 20, 2014 6:15 PM CDT

‘Stop the Islamization of America’ is disparaging and can’t be trademarked, Federal Circuit says

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has refused a trademark for the phrase “Stop the Islamization of America” because it is disparaging to Muslims. The Federal Circuit ruled on Tuesday against blogger Pamela Geller, who founded a group by that name and runs a website called “Stop!…

May 14, 2014 12:36 PM CDT

Delaware Chancery Court uses little-known power, issues arrest warrant for party in corporate case

For the first time in decades and possibly its entire 220-year history, one of the nation’s top business courts has exercised a little-known power. Delaware’s Court of Chancery this week issued an arrest warrant for a party in a civil business dispute, reports the News Journal. “We have never done…

Apr 9, 2014 8:20 PM CDT

Blog offers immigration help to Nigella Lawson | Celeb podcaster fights patent troll

It was reported by The Daily Mail and other news outlets this week that celebrity chef Nigella Lawson was turned away from boarding a Los Angeles-bound flight from London. A U.S. embassy spokeswoman would not tell CNN why Lawson had been stopped. At Lifted Lamp, the law firm Benach Ragland…

Apr 4, 2014 1:30 PM CDT

5th Circuit: Law firm sued for libel over website seeking clients isn’t protected by SLAPP statute

Agreeing with a trial court that statements made by a Texas law firm on a website seeking legal clients are commercial speech, a federal appeals court has ruled that the firm and two partners must defend a defamation claim made by a national dental firm that was an intended litigation…

Mar 18, 2014 5:55 PM CDT

TV’s Judge Judy files first lawsuit, says law firm used her name and photo in ads without her OK

Famed television judge Judith Scheindlin says she has never filed a lawsuit before. But “Judge Judy” said she felt she had no choice but to do so when a Connecticut law firm used her name and photo on television and Internet advertising despite her long-standing decision not to endorse products…

Mar 12, 2014 9:34 PM CDT

Harper Lee settles suit against museum after judge calls defense argument ‘nebulous’

The author of To Kill a Mockingbird has settled her suit that claimed a museum in her Alabama hometown violated her trademarks and rights of publicity. Details of Harper Lee’s settlement with the Monroe County Heritage Museum were not disclosed, report the Wall Street Journal Law Blog, the New York…

Feb 21, 2014 11:45 AM CST

Estate of James Dean sues Twitter and fan over @JamesDean account

Iconic actor James Dean, best-known for his leading role in Rebel Without a Cause, has been dead for decades. So there’s scant likelihood that those following the Twitter account @JamesDean think they’re dealing with the real silver screen legend. However, the actor’s estate has sued the anonymous owner of the…

Feb 11, 2014 4:50 PM CST

Starbucks clone claims to be a parody; will mocked coffee chain laugh or call its lawyers?

Observers in Southern California are scratching their heads over a clone of a popular coffee cafe that has seemingly popped up out of nowhere. Calling itself “Dumb Starbucks”on a logo that otherwise appears identical to the green, white and black design made famous by the real Starbucks, the look-alike upstart…

Feb 10, 2014 1:25 PM CST