With certain narrow exceptions (including in connection with the sale of the “goodwill” of a business), agreements restraining competition face an uphill battle in California. As a matter of public policy, California law...more
Vondran Legal® News: We have recently filed suit in the Los Angeles Superior Court against the South Coast Botanic Garden Foundation. Amazingly, they used photographs of two Defendants (who are working professionals who...more
In California, a business operating on real property being acquired, in whole or in part, for a public project may make a claim for loss of goodwill and be entitled to compensation if the business operator establishes the...more
TINA Investigation Sours on HelloFresh - America’s #1 food-box provider is deploying dark patterns, says watchdog - See-Through? When it comes to ingredients and suppliers, HelloFresh is all about disclosure....more
Earlier this month, the Federal Court issued its decision in Subway IP LLC v Budway, Cannabis & Wellness Store, 2021 FC 583, a case involving a cannabis retailer that knowingly adopted a parody mark in connection with its...more
There were several notable trademark cases in Canada in 2020, including those addressing comparative advertising, depreciation of goodwill, brand parody, trademark ‘use’ in the absence of a brick-and-mortar location, and...more
Market equity prices and indices continued to decrease for many energy companies during 2020. For instance, between January 13, 2020, and December 31, 2020, the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Select Industry...more
The SEC sued Sequential Brands on December 11 in Manhattan federal court, alleging that it failed to accurately calculate and disclose impairments to its goodwill in 2016 and early 2017. According to the Complaint, this...more
The Federal Court of Canada (the “FCTD“) recently released Toys “R” Us (Canada) Ltd v Herbs “R” Us Wellness Society, in which it considered whether a cannabis company, Herbs “R” Us Wellness Society (“Herbs R Us“), had...more
In a recent decision of Canada’s Federal Court illustrates the danger of adopting a mark or name “inspired” by a famous or well-known brand, even when confusion is unlikely. The decision is a cautionary tale, particularly for...more
While comparative advertising can be an effective tool for comparing and contrasting competing brands, there are limits on what claims can lawfully be made. One such limit is provided by Section 22 of the Trademarks Act,...more
A federal district court in Michigan granted a preliminary injunction in favor of tax preparation franchisor, Liberty Tax Service (JTH Tax, Inc. v. Magnotte, E.D. Mich., ¶16,575), finding it was likely to succeed on its...more
Comparative advertising can be a useful tool for marketers. It positions competing brands against each other and helps consumers make better choices. However, there are legal limits to comparative advertising which are set...more
In the world of eminent domain, compensation for “lost goodwill” is often a tricky and contentious issue. New opinions from the Court of Appeal addressing goodwill tend to get a lot of attention....more
“For injunctive relief, a practitioner must establish irreparable harm to the client caused by the misappropriation of the trade secrets. Irreparable harm can come in many forms, with reputational harm and loss of goodwill...more
The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT), like most other federal courts, may issue an injunction to afford equitable relief to the parties that appear before it. Those injunctions typically bar the federal government from...more
Goodwill is one of the trickier areas of eminent domain law. When a governmental agency takes private property through the exercise of eminent domain powers, the agency generally must pay the property owner the fair market...more
On March 21, MillerCoors—the maker of Miller Light and Coors Light— filed a complaint in federal court in Milwaukee for false advertising and trademark dilution against rival brewer Anheuser-Busch—the maker of Bud Light....more
Earlier this month we published an exhaustive review of the life sciences and regulatory cases in the Canadian courts, and decisions on the merits for the year are summarized in our in our Rx IP Update 2018 Highlights in...more
In Samuel D. Orbison & Am. Piping Inspection v. Ma-Tex Rope Co., a jury found that a former employee breached fiduciary duties by working for a competitor while being employed by the plaintiff. No. 06-17-00112-CV, 2018 Tex....more
In Vecco Instruments Inc. v. SGL Carbon, LLC, No. 17-CV-2217 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 2, 2017), Judge Pamela Chen in the Eastern District of New York recently granted Vecco’s motion for a preliminary injunction enjoining SGL Carbon....more
A joke does not work if it needs to be explained. While some complaint and parody websites may constitute fair dealing, close copying of trademarks and copyrighted works, combined with mean-spirited commentary, will not fly....more
Smart & Biggar prevails at trial on behalf of Diageo in trade dress case. On June 12, 2017, the Federal Court issued its 99-page decision in Diageo Canada Inc v Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc et al, 2017 FC 571. The Court...more
On May 5, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an important decision in City of Dearborn Heights Act 345 Police & Fire Retirement System v. Align Technology, Inc., et al., affirming the dismissal of a...more
When property is taken by eminent domain, the owner of a business operated on the property is entitled to compensation for any “business goodwill” lost due to the taking. Usually, “goodwill” translates into a business’s...more