Whiskey Maker’s Suit Claims Jameson Is Violating His ‘Big Ginger’ Drink Trademark

A Minneapolis area whiskey producer hopes to stop the Jameson Irish whiskey company from marketing a drink called the “Big Jameson Ginger” based on allegations it infringes his own trademarked cocktail name. Kieran Folliard owned several pubs in the Twin Cities before he began making whiskey, the Minneapolis Star Tribune…

Feb 16, 2012 3:30 PM CST

Trademark Infringement Suit Settles with Dropped ‘The’

A nonprofit group has settled a trademark infringement suit by agreeing to drop “the” from its name. The Barns of Rose Hill will now be known as Barns of Rose Hill, according to the Washington Post blog The State of NoVa. The nonprofit in Berryville, Va., turned two donated barns…

Jan 30, 2012 2:37 PM CST

Doc Defender: He’s the Fair-Use Guru of Nonfiction Movies

Dec 1, 2011 9:10 AM CST

Artist Defends His ‘Eat More Kale’ Shirts Against Chick-fil-A Trademark Objections

A Vermont folk artist who promotes local agriculture with the advice “eat more kale” on T-shirts and sweatshirts is fighting a demand by Chick-fil-A that he stop using the phrase. Bo Muller-Moore says he has twice heard from Chick-fil-A, which holds the trademark to the phrase “eat mor chikin,” the…

Nov 29, 2011 2:54 PM CST

On Cyber Monday, Feds Seized Domain Names of 150 Websites Accused of Selling Knockoff Goods

The federal government seized the domain names of 150 websites on Cyber Monday in an effort to fight the sale of counterfeit goods. Before the seizure, law enforcement officers bought knockoff products such as sports jerseys and shoes as part of the undercover sting called “In Our Sites,” according to…

Nov 29, 2011 2:27 PM CST

Tootsie Roll Sues Footzyroll, Claims Likelihood of Confusion Between Candy Bar and Soft Shoe Brand

At first glance, a soft, roll-up slipper might not seem likely to be confused with a famous candy bar brand. But the Footzyrolls made by Rollashoes not only free-ride on the more than 100-year-old Tootsie Roll Industries name but might well be thought to be an affiliated product, contends a…

Nov 21, 2011 9:44 PM CST

The XXX Factor: New Domain Names Could Lead to Trademark Problems for Businesses

Nov 1, 2011 9:10 AM CDT

Free CLE Course on Elvis Presley Law Is ‘Bait and Switch’ to Get Lawyers to Listen to Pro Bono Pitch

A legal aid group in Tennessee is trying a clever and unusual tactic to drum up an audience of attorneys to listen to a pro bono pitch: Elvis Presley. Legal Aid of East Tennessee will be offering a free continuing legal education course on Tuesday on Elvis Law. The state…

Sep 29, 2011 3:35 PM CDT

Cheesehead Owner Threatens Suit re Grim Reaper’s Headgear on Billboard Warning of Dairy Food Danger

The owner of the rights to the infamous Foamation triangular cheesehead worn by fans of the Green Bay Packers is demanding that a group of physicians rethink a planned billboard in which the Grim Reaper, wearing an apparent cheesehead, warns of the danger of eating the dairy food. “Warning: Cheese…

Sep 26, 2011 11:54 PM CDT

Heirs of Miles Davis Sue Miles’ Cafe Owner, Who Is Also a Trumpet Player Known as Miles

A New York restaurateur who allegedly claims Miles Davis appeared to him in a dream, leading him to take the legendary jazz musician’s first name and open a cafe using that moniker, is now a defendant in a lawsuit. Brought by relatives who inherited from Davis’ estate, the Manhattan federal…

Aug 31, 2011 9:28 PM CDT

Gilbert Arenas’ Tweets Help Doom His Legal Bid to Block ‘Basketball Wives’

Orlando Magic basketball star Gilbert Arenas has failed to obtain a preliminary injunction to block the airing of Basketball Wives Los Angeles, set to air for the first time on Monday. Arenas’ enthusiasm for Twitter helped doom his contention that his private life wasn’t a matter of public concern, according…

Aug 26, 2011 2:20 PM CDT

Wis. State Bar Sues LexisNexis over a ‘Strikingly Similar’ Pillar Logo

The State Bar of Wisconsin has filed an infringement suit against LexisNexis over its use of an online logo. The suit contends LexisNexis uses a logo on its Lawyers.com website that is “strikingly similar” to the bar’s pillar icon, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Lawyers.com provides information about lawyers and…

Aug 23, 2011 12:07 PM CDT

Around the Blawgosphere: ‘Vaporizing’ Labor Law Statutes; Is Being an ‘Evil Empire’ Really So Bad?

Last Friday at Overlawyered, Cato Institute senior fellow Walter Olson posed this question: “If I could press a button and instantly vaporize one sector of employment law …” noting that he explains how he himself would answer that question on a symposium at Reason.com. What would he vaporize? Age discrimination.…

Aug 19, 2011 1:30 PM CDT

Red is Not Solely Louboutin’s Domain, Federal Judge Rules, Denying Injunction in Designer Shoe Case

A federal district court judge in Manhattan has ruled against Christian Louboutin SA in a hard-fought case over high-end red-soled women’s shoes. Judge Victor Marrero today denied the Paris-based fashion company’s motion for a preliminary injunction that would have barred top competitor Yves Saint Laurent from selling similar shoes while…

Aug 10, 2011 5:00 PM CDT

Mattel Ordered to Pay $225M in Punitives, Attorney’s Fees and Costs in Bratz Doll Case

A federal judge in Santa Ana, Calif., today nearly trebled the $88 million that Mattel Inc. was earlier ordered to pay a competitor in a hard-fought case over the rights to the popular Bratz doll line. Mattel must pay MGA Entertainment Inc. $85 million in punitive damages and $2.5 million…

Aug 5, 2011 12:55 AM CDT