News & Media
Jeb Corliss Sues Empire State Building
Lia Fazzone at the Defense Zzone (clever blog name, eh?) reports on Jeb Corliss’ lawsuit against the Empire State Building. Corliss was charged with reckless endangerment for his attempted BASE jump from the building, but managed to escape liability. See BASE Jumping and the Law. The Empire State Building sued Corliss in civil court, where he prevailed again. Now Corliss
HSBC v. Clear Blue Sky – Common UDRP Defenses Debunked
A recent UDRP case, HSBC Finance Corporation v. Clear Blue Sky Inc. and Domain Manager, Case No. D2007-0062 provides a good collection of some typical losing UDRP defenses and shows where the line should be drawn around such defenses. The Case
Patriots File for "19-0" Trademark
If this is your first visit to the Legal Satyricon, click here. Filing for a 19-0 trademark before the Superbowl… Hubris? Smart business? I guess we’ll know tonight. On January 17, Bob Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots filed two trademark applications for “19-0” and “19-0 The Perfect Season”. The applications are filed as “intent to use” (ITU) applications
Superbowl Ticket Terms
I’m probably one of the only people who bothered to read the terms on the back of my superbowl tickets. Naturally, the spectator must assume all personal injuries that are incidental to the game of football. Here is a clause that makes me bristle a little bit: The ticket holder will not transmit or aid in transmitting any picture, account
Dillsnap Cogitations
Dillsnap Cogitations is a marvelous blend of politics and punk-rock tribute that makes no such attempt and offers no apologies. Its author describes himself as follows: Hi, my name is Johnny Peepers. I am a socio-pathetic degenerate with a penchant for cheap booze, ruphy-laden broads, and dim sum soup. I have a maniacal and brooding personality, often described as emotionally-stunted,
In Anti-Gambling Craze, First Amendment is Collateral Damage
We (okay, I) usually think of the uneducated red states as the anti-freedom bloc. But, the Blue states are doing their part to make sure that Dixie and Utah aren’t the only places where personal liberty is no longer a right. Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick is working on a nanny state anti-gambling law. That one particularly galls me as a
NYPD Blue Fines
This posting earlier slammed FCC Commissioner Tate for being a petty fascist. FCC Commish Tate — Asshat of the Week Here is the underlying decision. “In the scene in question, a woman wearing a robe is shown entering a bathroom, closing the door, and then briefly looking at herself in a mirror hanging above a sink. The camera then shows
Should a Child Molester Get His Law License Back?
I’m not sure how I feel about this Child molester pleads to practice law On one hand, I really can’t see why he should get his license back. On the other hand, turning someone into a man with nothing to lose is a sure fire way to guarantee that he does something we won’t like.
Jello Wrestling Suit Tossed
Blogonaut reports that New York University junior Avram Wisnia organized a dorm party that included a jello wrestling ring. Wisnia fell down and broke his hip. But instead of attributing the incident to his own poor judgment he sued NYU for a cool million for not stopping him from holding the event and for allowing the school’s food service provide
Material Support to Terrorists and the First Amendment
ABA Daily News Reports: A lawyer for disbarred lawyer Lynne Stewart claimed in appellate arguments yesterday that his client’s release of a statement by an imprisoned sheik was protected by the First Amendment. (source) I haven’t had time to fully review the arguments, but my gut says it won’t fly. I’d love to get some comments on this.
Grounds for Re-Filing a UDRP Complaint – AEG v. Alvarez
In Alpine Entertainment Group v. Walter Alvarez, WIPO Case. D2007-1082 a three-member UDRP panel clarified one circumstance in which a previously unsuccessful UDRP complaint could be re-filed. In the earlier case, the Complainant alleged common law rights to the term REALSPANKINGS. The Complainant also alleged Colorado State trademark rights as well as pointed out a pending trademark application, filed prior
Borat Case Dismissed on Jurisdictional Grounds
Kathie Martin, an etiquette teacher in Birmingham, who appeared in the Borat movie, brought suit against the filmmakers because she didn’t like how she was portrayed in the film. The media has been buzzing with news of the dismissal, which isn’t as powerful of a victory for our favorite Kazakh reporter as it might seem. The Alabama Supreme Court dismissed
Bar sues over being called a "dive bar"
If I had read this review, I might have been more inclined to visit the plaintiff’s bar. This lawsuit ensures that it is on my boycott list. Commentary on the case over at On Point News.
DC Fires Employees Over Porn Surfing
Jon Katz over at the Underdog Blog does a great job of telling the story.
In Copyright Flap, Dozier Digs Deeper
I was a little flabbergasted by how the law firm that claimed that copyright law prohibits the republication of a cease and desist letter. That issue discussed here: Copyright vs. Free Speech in Cease and Desist Letters. Watching the firm keep on digging is starting to feel like watching a train wreck. One commenter said: Dozier, the more you post
Florida does something intelligent!!!
I woke up today and had to rub the sleep out of my eyes a few times before it sunk in… I owe my adopted state at least a partial apology. McCain wins Florida Republican Primary! I really didn’t think that Florida was capable of making an intelligent electoral choice — especially not in a closed Republican primary.
Nat Hentoff on "Freedom for thought we hate"
The Great Nat Hentoff reviews Freedom for the Thought that We Hate by Anthony Lewis… and tosses out some marvelous inspiration of his own: Once our republic began, James Madison expected that no American would be punished for his “thoughts.” But “hate crimes” laws vigorously and incredibly supported by the American Civil Liberties Union are what Madison feared. If these
New Hampshire Virtual Child Porn Case
In Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, 535 U.S. 234 (2002), the US Supreme Court struck down a law that banned “virtual” child pornography on the grounds that the government could not constitutionally prohibit pornography that seemed to depict minors, but actually contained no minors at all. The New Hampshire Supreme Court recently confronted this same issue in New Hampshire v.
Another Florida SLAPP Suit
Just another day in litigious flori-duh. The Miami Herald reports: Developer Tibor Hollo has filed a $25 million defamation lawsuit against a Miami real estate agent who blogged that the octogenarian went bankrupt in the 1980s and is headed for a fall with the upheaval in the condo market. Hollo last week sued agent Lucas Lechuga and the Coral Gables
Volokh on the Dozier Copyright Issue
I’ve posted twice about this: Copyright vs. Free Speech in Cease and Desist Letters In Copyright Flap, Dozier Digs Deeper Volokh has chimed in here: Who am I to argue with Eugene Volokh?
