The Onion: Magritte Estate Sued.
November 2008
Please Nominate Me For IP Czar
By Marty Schwimmer on
Posted in Miscellany
Wired is taking nominations for IP Czar. Both Profs. Patry and Lessig would be better choices than me, but if selected, I will work hard to enact an economic stimulus package consisting of iTunes gift cards for everybody.
Do You Have Nude Pictures Of Your Wife?
By Marty Schwimmer on
Posted in Miscellany
There’s something missing in this BBC story. A man leaves a cellphone containing nude pictures of his wife, in a McDonalds. Someone posts the pictures on the Internet. The man sues McDonalds. What the article doesn’t report is what theory the man came up with as to why this is McDonalds’ fault.
I meet…
“Coupons, Inc. Drops DMCA Lawsuit Against Coupon Hacker”
By Marty Schwimmer on
Posted in DMCA
Ars Technica: “Coupons, Inc. drops DMCA Lawsuit Against Coupon Hacker“:
A copyright lawsuit against a man who posted instructions on how to print unlimited copies of coupons has been dropped. The defendant, John Stottlemire, posted to his website this week that he had reached a settlement with Coupons, Inc. after a year-long legal
…
“Help for eBay Shoppers Who Can’t Spell”
By Marty Schwimmer on
Posted in Search Engines
NY Times: “Help for eBay Shoppers Who Can’t Spell“:
A handful of new Web sites with names like Typo Bay and Typo Buddy are out to help shoppers save money by searching eBay for misspelled brand names. Such items often have fewer bidders because they don’t appear in search results for people who…
Kenya: Summary of Recent Trademark Decisions
By Marty Schwimmer on
Posted in International
Ratio Magazine: Summary of recent trademark decisions in Kenya
Taco Bell Sues 50 Cent
By Marty Schwimmer on
Posted in Right of Publicity/Privacy
MTV: 50 Cent Gets Sued:
Fiddy filed a lawsuit for Trademark Infringement earlier this year after the company put out adverts saying he should change his name to 79 Cent or 99 Cent!
Now the chain have hit back in a countersuit calling the rapper a “self-described former drug dealer and hustler” and adding
…
Chooclate Bunny Suit
By Marty Schwimmer on
Posted in Non-Traditional Trademarks
Bloomberg: “Lindt Defends Chocolate Bunny Rights in Eurpose at Top EU Court“:
Lindt & Spruengli AG’s European trademark rights on a chocolate Easter bunny wrapped in gold foil were gained “honestly and fairly” and it should be able to block copies, Lindt told the European Union’s highest court.
Searches Led Away From Brand Sites
By Marty Schwimmer on
Posted in Search Engines
MediaPost.com: Searchers Led Away From Brand Sites:
More than one in 10 U.S. Internet searches for leading brands end up clicking away from the brand owner’s Web site, according to a recent report from research firm Hitwise.
McCain’s Memo in Motion to Dismiss Jackson Browne’s Copyright Suit
By Marty Schwimmer on
Posted in Copyright Fair Use
Memo from McCain’s Motion to Dismiss Copyright Action brought by jackson Browne re McCain campaign’s use of ‘Running on Empty.’
A. Browne’s Copyright Infringement Claims Are Barred By The
Fair Use Doctrine
1. The First Factor, The Purpose And Character Of The Use,
Favors McCain Because The Use Was Made In A Non-
Commercial Political…