Lawyer Ron Coleman on brands, the Internet & free speech
LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION®
As I have written so many times, what used to qualify as a “short post” back when the edgiest form of social media was blogging is now just… a tweet. And long posts? Come on,…
Free Expression
This is an important trademarks / free speech case. I got in on an edge of it!
Ryan Gile reports that it’s Coke vs. Pepsi on behalf of their sport-drink proxies, Gatorade and Powerade: Coke’s advertising . . . makes the claim that Gatorade is “missing two electrolytes” – calcium and magnesium…
Costumes and Clothing
I am fascinated with IP disputes over costumes, and have written about a few of them. I have also linked to this piece by Bill Patry, which would seem to be the definitive treatment. It…
Public Citizen’s Paul Alan Levy reports: A few weeks ago, I commented on the efforts of mega law firm Jones Day to abuse trademark law to suppress articles it didn’t like on a real estate…
I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean. I already said I’ve run out of Twitter-related puns. But you have to put something in for the title. I’m open to suggestions for future installments of…
Counterfeiting & Piracy
“You’re gonna have to face it, you’re addicted to law!” Well, that’s what the song always sounded like to me. When you’re a hammer… (and I do try to be a hammer!) … Surely the…
LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION®
Microblogging is all the new thing. Here is some of the topical microblogging I’ve done lately: I like creative phrases like this and think it is great that people sell clothing, hats, or masks displaying…
Brand Management and Branding
The Street reports that “IAC/InterActiveCorp. is dropping the butler who doubles as the mascot of its recently acquired Ask Jeeves online search business.” Trademark / branding suicide. So obviously wrong. Originally posted 2005-09-21 13:47:23. Republished…
First published May 1, 2013. Today I was preparing a brief in opposition to a subpoena served on a client seeking information to identify certain anonymous third parties. [Update: The result of our motion can…
It might not be true. But they don’t write these things about you and me. UPDATE: It’s just not really going their way, mostly, is it? (HT to IP.) Originally posted 2007-06-27 20:44:15. Republished by…
Law Practice and Profession
Above the Law reports: Belluck & Fox is a nine-attorney law firm in Manhattan. The firm worked out a deal with the radio station that broadcasts New York Yankees games, making it the official legal…
Fair Use
I’ve been watching these guys at the MTA and their IP enforcement program for a while now. Once was for a client, who, regrettably, didn’t want to fight. I first picked up on this over…
Blogging
Some of my best (online-who-I-never-met-but-believe-me-they-have-your-back) friends among legal bloggers don’t believe in legal blogging at all. For example, Scott Greenfield both excels at it and is absolutely contemptuous of it — if, of course, you don’t realize…
Selling counterfeit DVD’s on 34th Street Originally uploaded by Ron Coleman While the IP-equity lobbyists are appointing copyright czars and planning endless dragnets against college students and their grannies, counterfeit media properties ripped off from…
Trademarks and trademark law
Posted on July 25, 2007. Michael Atkins reports that the colossus of American trademark law, J.T. McCarthy, is embarrassed by the narrow thinking of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. What did one of the…