Shareholders of venture to exploit Stan Lee’s rights in famous Marvel characters sue Stan Lee and Marvel over profits. Background here.
Complaint Stan Lee
Financial Times Sues Blackstone for Copyright Infringement Over Password Sharing
FT accuses of Blackstone Group of passing around the password to an online subscription (the cookies gave Blackstone away).
Another password sharing suit in the District of Maryland discussed here. The same party, Costar, has been successful in password sharing cases previously.
Complaint Financial Times Black Stone
Alternative Super Bowl Logos
Alternative Super Bowl logos via the NY Times.
Discussion of NY Times / Gatehouse Linking Settlement
Nieman Journalism Lab: Wrap-up NYT / Gatehouse (settlement of dispute re ability of Boston Globe to link to headlines of local papers). Ht Linsay Lavine.
Prof Goldman: Paper on Brand Spillovers
Brand Spillovers by Prof Eric Goldman (to be published in the Harvard Journal of Law and Technology):
This Article considers the spillover effects of trademarks-in particular, “brand spillovers,” which occur when consumer interest in a trademark increases the profits of third parties who do not own the trademark. Using techniques such as loss leaders and
“‘They Are Not Exact Replications Of These Girls”
So says Ty, Inc. to allegations that it based its new Sasha and Malia dolls on Sasha and Malia Obama. Perhaps they are not exact replications because Sasha and Malia Obama are not 12 inch plush dolls.
There won’t be a suit because sitting presidents tend not to sue private manufacturers when they come out
Major League Baseball v Donruss
Major League Baseball Properties sues former licensee Don Russ for use of various MLB properties.
Complaint MLB Don Russ Baseball
“Court of Appeals Overturns Kentucky Gambling Domain Seizure”
A domain name is not a gambling device. Coverage here.
Exclusive Rights: Copyright Blog
Exclusive Rights is a copyright blog written by an in-house attorney with enormous round hands.
Nini Ricci v Twilight
NowSmellThis: Nina Ricci to sue makers of Twillight.