Last year, Pepperidge Farm filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Trader Joe’s, claiming that Trader Joe’s Crispy Cookies infringed the Milano trademark owned by Pepperidge Farm for its incredibly scrumptious chocolate filled sandwich cookies that are the snack equivalent of crack cocaine. Pepperidge Farm claimed that while Trader Joe’s Crispy Cookies were square, they had rounded corners that made them ever so similar to the Milano.
Adobe has settled a lawsuit it filed against clothing retailer Forever 21. Adobe and two other software publishers filed suit against Forever 21 claiming that it was using pirated copies of Adobe Photoshop and other software at its 700 retail locations.
We can only assume from the name of the stores that they promote perpetual youth. And, apparently, a fundamental lack of an understanding of – and a respect for – intellectual property rights. The judge should have ordered Forever 21 grounded until they were 35.
Rolls Royce (that is, Rolls Royce Motor Cars Limited, the car company and the real Rolls Royce) rolled up a second victory against rapper Royce Rizzy (formerly known as “Rolls Royce Rizzy” and no relation to the luxury automobile). A U.S. District Court judge ruled that Rizzy’s use of “Rolls Royce” diluted the brand and ordered Rizzy to cease use of the term “Rolls Royce.” As it turns out, Rizzy Royce’s real name is Robert D. Davis.
No, we are not kidding.
Maryland law firm Joseph Greenwald & Laake dodged the bullet and a $350 million judgment against a claim that one of its attorneys, Stephen Friedman, had improperly copied 800 pages of a travel software program and leaked it to competitors. A U.S. District Court judge dismissed the lawsuit after he discovered that the case was launched by the husband of the woman who wrote the software package to gain leverage over his estranged wife in upcoming divorce proceedings.
No, we are not kidding.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) filed a lawsuit on behalf of a monkey named Naruto who stole the camera of British photographer Jason Slater and took a picture of himself. Slater subsequently published the picture, received compensation for the photo, and claimed copyright ownership of the image.