Google Liberalizes US Trademark Policy: “What, Me Worry?” Part 2
By Eric Goldman In my Deregulating Relevancy article from a few years ago, I explained how trademark law was having pernicious consequences for online conversations. Among other unwanted effects, trademark law hinders online discussions about trademarks even when both conversationalists…
Firepond “Copycat” Lawsuit Filed Against Google–John Beck Amazing Profits v. Google
By Eric Goldman John Beck Amazing Profits, LLC v. Google Inc. 2:2009cv00151 (E.D. Tex. complaint filed May 14, 2009). The Justia page. Earlier this week, a group of lawyers filed a class action lawsuit against Google and its distribution partners…
Ninth Circuit Mucks Up 47 USC 230 Jurisprudence….AGAIN!?–Barnes v. Yahoo
By Eric Goldman Barnes v. Yahoo!, Inc., 2009 WL 1232367 (9th Cir. May 7, 2009). My 2005 blog post on the lower court ruling. Reading Barnes v. Yahoo, I had an overpowering sense of deja vu. Almost precisely 2 years…
Google Hit With Major Class Action Trademark Lawsuit Over Trademarked Keyword Ad Sales–FPX v. Google
By Eric Goldman FPX, LLC v. Google, Inc., 2:2009cv00142 (E.D. Tex. complaint filed May 11, 2009) In retrospect, it seems so obvious. Why were the lawyers for these chickenscratch plaintiffs (Rescuecom? Check ‘n’ Go?) suing Google over trademarked keyword ad…
George Mason Talk and Paper on Economics of Reputational Information
By Eric Goldman Last week I presented a version of my Economics of Reputational Information talk at the Third Annual Conference in the Law and Economics of Innovation series, an event co-sponsored by George Mason Law School and Microsoft. My…
Google’s International Trademark Policy Change: “What, Me Worry?”
By Eric Goldman I’ve had a number of discussions with folks about what Google would do in light of its adverse ruling in Rescuecom. Personally, I didn’t expect them to do much of anything right now. I still think they…
April 2009 Quick Links
By Eric Goldman [Just a reminder that I am posting some “quick links” exclusively to my Twitter account, so if you want to keep up with everything, follow me at Twitter or subscribe to the RSS feed.] Marketing/Spam * Zango…
Upcoming Talks in May and June
By Eric Goldman May and June have become unexpectedly busy. I’ve got over a half-dozen public speaking engagements scheduled for the next two months. Where you can find me: * May 7, Arlington, VA. Law and Economics of Innovation conference…
Two 47 USC 230 Defense Losses–StubHub and Alvi Armani Medical
By Eric Goldman Even though both of these cases are a little dated, they both just showed up in Westlaw in the past couple weeks. Their juxtaposition, plus the recent Woodhull case, suggests a mini-trend against 230. NPS LLC v….
Promatek Redux: Software Consultant Enjoined from Metatag Usage and Other TM References–Deltek v. Iuvo
By Eric Goldman Deltek, Inc. v. Iuvo Systems, Inc., 2009 WL 1073196 (E.D. Va. April 20, 2009). The Justia page. Every year in Cyberlaw, I teach Promatek v. Equitrac, a Seventh Circuit metatags case from 2002 noteworthy for its multiple…