News & Media
Welcome to the Web, Wikia Search
This seems exciting: Wikipedia is launching a new search engine. (source) I know that Wikipedia is such a running joke that one might be tempted to issue a guffaw or two. I say, not so fast. The “wisdom of crowds” theory works rather well on Wikipedia. If you are doing research, you’ll likely find the Wikipedia entry to be a
US bans online gambling, Antigua strikes back
Back a few years ago, in an attempt to pander to the Religious Right — the “conservatives” who want to make government so small that it can fit under your bedroom door, and into your brain — Bill Frist jammed through a ban on online gambling. He was smart enough to attach it to a port security bill. Smart move.
50,000?
Wow, the Legal Satyricon has surpassed 50,000 visits! When did that happen?
Girls Gone Wine v. Girls Gone Wild
Trademark law is so straightforward. Nevertheless, it seems like you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a lawyer who has no clue whatsoever. Oklahoma winemakers Girls Gone Wine is suing Mantra Films in response to a cease-and-desist letter from the “Girls Gone Wild” producers.
Score one for the Doe v. Cahill standard
The Arizona Court of Appeals is the latest court to embrace the Doe v. Cahill standard for protecting anonymous speech on the Internet. See Mobilisa, Inc. v. Doe, — P.3d —-, 2007 WL 4167007 (Ariz. App. November 27, 2007). Under that standard, when a plaintiff seeks to unmask an anonymous internet speaker, the plaintiff must show that his case can
What I have been up to
The entries have been a little lacking lately. With one of our attorneys in the office out for family reasons and heavy litigation, something had to give a bit during the week. My weekends have been consumed with this.
Harley Loses Battle over Sportster Name in Mexico
See article on Biker News Online.
Religious Chickens Come Home to Roost
I frequently engage religious zealots by asking them how they would like having the Atheist belief system shoved down their throats the way they try and shove their superstitions down our throats. Turns out they don’t like it one bit. In Connecticut, an atheist group put up a sign in the town square stating “Imagine No Religion,” along with a
Two Stupid "Religious Discrimination" Cases
In Utah, a group of atheists filed suit to stop the highway patrol from placing crosses at the sites of fallen state trooper’s deaths. 99% of the time, I side with the Atheists in establishment cases, but this one is just plain dumb. While I think that the judge went a little overboard in his analysis, most of it was
Another Borat Lawsuit
Now the driver’s ed instructor from the Borat film has filed suit. This film will be featured prominently in my entertainment law class. (Source) UPDATE: A plaintiff in an earlier-filed Borat suit not only had his case dismissed, but he now owes Fox $43,775 for their attorney’s fees! Kudos to the judge who had the chram to impose this penalty
Will Alabama Join the 21st Century?
An Alabama legislator is planning to propose legislation to get rid of that state’s ban on sex toys. Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, told the Birmingham News that the law is unconstitutional and embarrassing to the state. “A shower head could be considered a sex toy,” he said. “It’s just bringing the state into the 20th century.” (source) Ok, I guess
Evel Knievel finally dies – age 69
Reports Yahoo News I don’t say “finally” as a sign of disrespect… au contraire. Any other man would have been dead decades ago. But you can’t kill Captain America. Knievel was my childhood hero. He was the personality behind posters in my room and a lot of my toys. I went from my toy Evel Knievel motorcycle to the real
Is the age of Big Brother P.C. over?
I’m not talking about Microsoft, I’m talking about political correctness. Yes, now that the dark ages of Bush conservative censorship are on the wane, we once again see the left wing anti-speech goblins rising from the muck.
Coincidence? Of course! Trent Lott's Brother in law Indicted
Story at The Van Der Galiën Gazette
Speaking about abortion is "Obscene"
This just in from the how did I miss this before? department: Cnet news reports on the recently-deceased Henry Hyde’s efforts to criminalize speech pertaining to abortion. Make that successful efforts. Read it for yourself. 18 U.S.C. § 1462 provides:
Pecora Nera = Black Sheep
The TTABlog reports on a recent doctrine of foreign equivalents case. See “PECORA NERA” and “BLACK SHEEP” Confusingly Similar for Clothing, Says TTAB.
Does Louis Vuitton Get the Joke Now?
The Fourth Circuit court of appeals recently handed Louis Vuitton its latest (well deserved) defeat in its suit against dog-toy maker, Chewy Vuiton in Haute Diggity Dog v. Louis Vuitton, ___ F.3d ___ (4th Cir. 2007). The world is a better place for it.
Jonathon Blevins on the Second Amendment
By Jonathon Blevins, Legal Satyricon Second Amendment Correspondent I have my own opinions on the Second Amendment that can be boiled down to this: The Second Amendment says what it says. While I will agree that it might not be socially desirable to have unfettered gun ownership in a nation of idiots, I can not pick and choose which rights
