0.2: Trademark Power Ballad
THIS WEEK: A heavy metal lawsuit, 33 states take a big swing at Meta, and some legally scary stories.
Trademark Power Ballad
A big legal performance is about to take the stage. Metallica and Iron Maiden have lawyered up and filed lawsuits against a number of e-commerce sites over the sale of unauthorized products.
Don’t know the bands (which to us would be wild, but maybe we’re dating ourselves a bit)? Don’t worry, the complaints give a pretty, um, exhaustive history of their achievements:
Effectively, a number of unknown e-commerce sellers have infringed upon a number of Metallica’s and Iron Maiden’s trademarks by slapping them on clothing and other apparel/goods. Some examples (it’s almost Halloween so this really puts us in the holiday spirit):
This is just a snippet —there is a list as long as a power ballad in both complaints. We’re going to watch this performance play out. Stay tuned.
Massive Meta Lawsuit
Meta is the subject of a new massive lawsuit. On Tuesday, thirty-three states filed the action, alleging that Meta (through Instagram and Facebook):
created a business model focused on maximizing young user’s time and attention
designed and deployed harmful and psychologically manipulative product features to induce young users’ compulsive and extended use, while falsely assuring the public that its features were safe and suitable for young users; and
routinely published misleading reports boasting a deceptively low incidence of user harm while allegedly having overwhelming internal research independent expert analysis, and publicly available data that its social media platforms harm young users.
The complaint references a number of different ways Meta markets itself to younger users and utilizes features to keep users on the platforms. Like:
This isn’t the first case asserting these kinds of allegations against Meta (and other social media platforms). Currently, several social media platforms are defending themselves against hundreds of lawsuits filed by individuals over the alleged addictive nature of the platforms.
We’re watching this one (ironically, probably on the same social media platforms referenced in this case and others).
Joke Break
Scary, Spooky, and Legally Terrifying
Last week we asked for your scariest legal stories. Here are a few that made us shriek (and a bonus story from yours truly).
“My bosses’ client was kidnapped by the other side’s gang associated family.”
“That time I sent an email talking mad shit about opposing counsel and their client didn’t realize they were all cc’d.“
“Tax law. Client forgot to tell [me] that he lives in Spain. Three days before the income tax deadline.”
“DA stepped over my intern in the bathroom after she fainted due to low blood sugar.”
And finally, my story.
Some 0.1’s
SBF finally took the stand in the FTX trial. It was…something.
Bad t-shirts and a proposed class action, the legacy of former Abercrombie CEO Michael Jeffries.
I may not be a billionaire, but T-Swift is a billionaire.
Bill This to Us
Enjoy 0.2? Hate it? Just dropping in to see how everything is going? Let us know.