The trademark and other assets of the Mustang Ranch, a bankrupt brothel in the state of Nevada, has been sold at auction via EBay for $145,000. Via The Reno Gazette. Image from Realm-of-shade.com.
Depicting a Bulldozer In A False Light
Both David C. of New Jersey and John W. of Boston write in to advise of news of this lawsuit filed by Caterpillar against Disney, producers of the movie “George of the Jungle II,” for its less than flattering portrayal of the fine CAT brand bulldozer.
Thinking of this lawsuit and that filed by Wham-O
Your Deal
The Deal, a business deal news provider, is protesting the use of The Real Deal for a real estate deal news provider, via the NY Post.
Google Loses Keyword Case in France
Google has lost a decision in the court of first instance in France based on its sale of keywords. It is my understanding that the case revolved around a complaint by a trademark owner that if Google has sold the keyword SHOES for an ad for any brand of shoes, then a search for [TRADEMARK] SHOES
Pivotal Private Equity Purchases NSI for $100 Million
Pivotal Private Equity has announced that it has purchased Network Solutions Inc., the largest domain name registrar for approximately $100 million. Details here and here. Verisign had purchased the registry and registrar businesses of NSI for $20 Billion in 2000. Verisign is retaining the registry business.
Information on Pivotal Private Equity here.
Confidentiality of Unsolicited Email Communications
Here’s a reminder – while it’s nice to receive unsolicited email and instant messages (about trademarks, not Nigerian bank scams), such contacts are at most initial or peripheral contacts, that will not create an attorney-client relationship for purposes of privilege, malpractice or conflicts of interest. While I agree to keep such communications confidential, bear in
AMERICA ONLINE v. AMERICA'S ONLINE UNIVERSITY
Via the Times-Picayune, AMERICA ONLINE v. AMERICA’S ONLINE UNIVERSITY. Grantham University has filed for AMERICA’S ONLINE UNIVERSITY, which has raised an objection from AOL. I note that Walden University owns Reg. no. 2728349 for AMERICA’S PREMIERE ONLINE UNIVERSITY.
70 Shoes Filled WIth Butter
IPKat on the protectability of ideas in conceptual art. In this case the idea is to fill 70 shoes with butter and put them in a scenic location.
How About the 43(a) Party?
A candidate for mayor of Hudson, NY, formed The Bottom Line Party. The incumbent mayor quickly filed petitions to run under The Bottom Line Party name, claiming that no one can own a political party name (and keeping the opponent off the ballot under that party line). For now, the matter is in state
Lies, Damn Lies, and Puffery
If you review advertising and promotional material for your clients, and they use terms such as DOMINANT, LEADING and PREMIER in their copy to describe themselves or their products, you may want to bring this story from By No Other, to their attention. It discusses the possible legal exposure (in a securities law context)