Why a parody golf label may beat back Titleist’s wrath
A golf-centric social media page had a hit on its hands when it started peddling hats mimicking the logo of Titleist, the golf equipment and apparel company. Only their stuff didn’t say Titleist-the merchandise replaced the brand name with a lewd anatomical reference that also starts with a T. Followers cackled at the joke and […]
Zillow picked a fight with a one-woman blog and lost
Zillow is backing down from the legal threats it’s issued against a blogger known for her searing critiques of McMansions – the large, extravagant houses that everyone loves to hate. The real estate company said Thursday that it had decided not to pursue legal action over the photographs used by Kate Wagner, author of the […]
Facebook’s Oculus fights sales ban for virtual-reality headset
Facebook wants a federal judge to let it continue sales of its virtual-reality headsets even though a jury said the social-media giant’s Oculus unit stole another company’s computer code. ZeniMax Media’s request for a court order blocking sales of unspecified models of the Oculus Rift, which is priced at $600 with controllers, follows a $500 […]
High court won’t hear appeal over dancing baby video
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court won’t hear an appeal in a long-running copyright dispute over a YouTube video that shows a baby dancing to Prince’s song, “Let’s Go Crazy.” The justices on Monday left in place a lower court ruling that cleared the way for a trial in a lawsuit filed by the baby’s […]
Court rejects appeal of $43.8M judgment in software lawsuit
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by ACI Worldwide of the $43.8 million judgment won by rival software firm Baldwin Hackett & Meeks. Baldwin Hackett had accused ACI of violating antitrust laws and interfering with Baldwin’s business relationships when ACI sued Baldwin, alleging software pirating. ACI lost. Omaha-based Baldwin […]
The head of the US patent office has abruptly resigned
America’s top patent and trademark official has abruptly resigned from her post. Michelle Lee, who has been director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for more than two years, submitted a letter of resignation Tuesday afternoon. “I am confident that the leadership team in place will serve you well during this transition,” Lee wrote […]
PayPal has some harsh words for Pandora in a lawsuit challenging its logo similarities
In the increasingly crowded music-streaming market, Pandora is being pushed ever further into the margins. Once a pioneer among apps that recommend music, the company has struggled to keep pace as rivals like Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music have come on to the scene. So last fall, as part of a broader rebranding effort, […]
Justices make it easier for companies to defend patent cases
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is making it easier for companies to defend themselves against patent infringement lawsuits. The justices ruled unanimously on Monday that such lawsuits can be filed only in states where defendants are incorporated. The issue is important to many companies that complained about patent owners choosing more favorable courts in […]
Google staves off genericide, avoids fate of aspirin, yo-yo
No matter how often you invoke a certain internet search engine’s name when doing online research, Alphabet Inc. still owns the brand. That’s the upshot of a federal appeals court’s decision Tuesday rejecting the argument that Google has become so popular as a verb that it should lose its status as a protected trademark. Genericide, […]
Judge orders Uber not to use technology taken from Waymo
DETROIT (AP) — A federal judge has ordered Uber not to use technology that a key executive downloaded before he left Waymo, the autonomous car company that was spun off from Google. But he refused to order a halt to Uber’s self-driving program, as requested by Waymo. Judge William Alsup in San Francisco says in […]
Now it’s the Eagles vs. Hotel California in a federal court
In the popular song “Hotel California,” the Eagles’ Don Henley sang, “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” That isn’t the case at Hotel California Todos Santos, an actual 11-room hotel in Todos Santos, Mexico, from which guests can both check out and leave. The hotel, in fact, has […]
LexisNexis acquires Lex Machina
On Monday, LexisNexis announced that it has acquired Silicon Valley-based Lex Machina, creators of the award-winning Legal Analytics platform that helps law firms and companies excel in the business and practice of law. Lex Machina proved the value of Legal Analytics in Intellectual Property law, and the technology is a must-have for 45 of the […]
Case Digests
- Court of Appeals – Speedy trial: People v. Justice A.
- Fourth Department – Traffic stop: People v. McMillon
- Second Circuit – Fair Labor Standards Act: Abbott v. Comme Des Garcons, Ltd.
- Second Circuit – Plea agreements: Cook v. United States
- Fourth Department: Statute of limitations: Marino v. Weiler
- Fourth Department – Nail and mail service: Rebutting presumption of service L&W Supply Corporation v. Built-Rite Drywall Corp, et al
- Fourth Department – Mental Hygiene Law: Charles L. v. State of New York
- Second Circuit – Medicaid and Medicare certification: U.S. ex rel. Quartararo v. Cath. Health Sys. Of Long Island Inc.
- Fourth Department – Waiver of indictment: People v. King
- Fourth Department – Speedy trial: People v. Jordan
- Fourth Department – Rosario material: People v. Dennard
- Second Circuit – Magnuson-Stevens Act: State of New York v. Raimondo
Law News
- Split court affirms gun conviction
- N.Y. Court of Appeals reverses gun conviction
- NY board approves cannabis lawsuit settlements, paves way for retail dispensaries
- NY Court of Appeals reverses murder conviction because of illegal police search
- NY Court of Appeals reverses gun conviction over ineffective counsel
- Split court affirms gun conviction, finding search and arrest were legal
- NY appeals court vacates drug conviction over illegal police search
- Split Court of Appeals strips Police Accountability Board of disciplinary power