Ziff-Davis article alleging that the new anti-spyware/adware tool distributed by Yahoo, does not identify Claria (Gator) or WhenU, implying that this may be due to Yahoo’s commercial relations with those companies. 

Claria and WhenU dispute that their products are ‘spyware’ (and Claria has litigated the point). For what it’s worth I note the following.

Last week I suddenly started receiving a blizzard of pop up ads (which I normally never receive because I use the Google pop up blocker).  I ran SpyBot and it revealed that WhenU was installed on my machine.  Now, because of my familiarity with viruses, browser highjackers, etc., I never download software. and did not knowingly download WhenU or any program for that matter that day or the days leading up to that day  More to the point, as a result of some matters I’ve handled, I am familiar with ‘drive by downloads’ and the like, and probably pay more attention to potentially-misleading dialog boxes, than does the average user. 

Be that as it may, WhenU was still installed on my PC against my wishes.  In my opinion, if I hit the ‘wrong’ key (and I’m not even sure I hit any button), I did so because of someone’s deception. 

 

 

From a video game fan blog named CUBE-EUROPE.COM, an article commenting upon names that Nintendo has registered in Japan.  Given the widespread dissemination of free online trademark registries, a company’s trademark filings are now easily discernable not only to one’s competitiors but to one’s customers as well.

UPDATE:  Another video game company responds to customers who had spotted one of its trademark filings here.

Anheuser Busch is running ads targeted at MILLER indicating that Miller Lite is ‘the Queen of Carbs’ and, now this is hitting below the belt, that it is “South African owned.”  Miller sued on false advertising.  The statements were made by Frank and Louie, the Bud lizards.  The carbs allegation has not been heard yet however a judge has now ruled on the South African allegations.  The statement “owned by South African Breweries” is literally false as South African Breweries has changed its name to SABMiller plc.  There was insufficient evidence as to the ownership of SABMiller to determine the truth of the statement “South African owned.”

Coverage here.

 

A company named Q-Med purchased what turned out to be a counterfeit ETHICON surgical mesh (a wire mesh implanted into the body to strengthen injured muscle wall).  At least 15 patients have the counterfeit mesh implanted in their bodies.  The FDA doubts whether the fake mesh is even sterile.  Story here.

Side-by-side comparison supplied by Ethicon to identify counterfeit mesh here.