Hormel, makers of SPAM, is suing SPAM ARREST, purveyors of spam-blocking software, according to this Seattle Times article. 

Here is the text of Hormel v. Henson, wherein Hormel could not stop Henson from using Spa’am as a name for a wild boar in a Muppets movie.  Here are the spam haiku archives. …

More on the WhenU and Gator pop-up matters via the NY Times (free registration required).

John L. Welch of Foley Hoag has written The Top Ten TTAB Decisions of 2002 for Allen’s Trademark Digest.  Submit your nominations for 2003 directly to him.  Pictured above, Roadrunner Maps v. Roadrunner.

Consumer WebWatch, a project of Consumer Union, has released a study entitled: “False Oracles: Consumer Reaction to Learning the Truth About How Search Engines Work.”   It reports its major findings as:

1. Most participants had little understanding of how search engines retrieve information from the Web or how they rank or prioritize

…

Todays Times reports that U-Haul has lost a trademark and copyright case in the Eastern District of Virginia against WhenU.com, a purveyor of pop-up advertising.  According to the article, no decision has been released as of yet.

Meanwhile, via InternetNews.com, a report that Overstock.com has sued Gator, the leading pop-up company.

Via the Miami Herald, Pizza Magia and Papa John’s have settled their lawsuit that involved trade secrets for making pizzas.

SAVAGE STUPIDITY is not confusingly similar to MICHAEL SAVAGE.  Perhaps he should be flattered by that.  Respondent’s website apparently is critical of complainant’s radio show.  Respondent’s press release here.

Talk Show Network v. Thomas Leavitt, FA0304000155182 (NAF June 24, 2003).

Posner on Aimster.  Injunction against Aimster upheld. Decision here.