Sunday, May 06, 2007 7:08 AM
Blawg's Sunday Paper, a quick spin through the blawgosphere and the week that was.
Wish I would have followed the advice of Bloodhorse's Steve Haskin yesterday at Churchill...oh well, on to the Preakness...
John L. Welch, writing at The TTABlog, noted that the Fame of "GOOGLE" Blows Away "BLOGLE" in TTAB 2(d) Summary Judgment:
Despite obvious differences in the marks, the Board granted summary judgment to Google, Inc. in its Section 2(d) opposition to registration of the mark BLOGLE (Stylized) for "computer software for searching, compiling, indexing and organizing information." The Board found that mark confusingly similar to the registered and famous mark GOOGLE for search engine software and services. Google, Inc. v. Pivot Design, Inc., Opposition no. 91171124 (April 20, 2007) [not precedential].
Elizabeth Nowicki at TRUTH ON THE MARKET found that last week's action by Dow Jones' board could have the makings of a good exam question:
Does a bid for Dow Jones implicate Revlon duties? Can a board “just say no”? What if the Board says nothing, b/c they know a majority of their s/h will not vote for the acquisition? This is the stuff good Corporations or M&A exam questions are made of. Luckily, counsel to the Dow Jones Board must have paid attention in class...see Dow Jones Board Action: Nice exam question for more.
Dan Harris at China Law Blog summarized in the post, China Real Estate Law, the recent China Real Estate Seminar in San Francisco, [i]n this post and over the next few days, I will try to convey some of what went on there as it really was a terrific conference for those interested in investing in China real estate.
Michelle Golden, writing at Golden Practices, suggested that lawyers Don't Treat All Your Clients the Same:
Your firm or company should have base-line service standards that are applied to all customers across the board. All customers should be able to rely on treatment that is prompt, fair, respectful, and pleasant--even if the 'news' or 'deliverable' is unpleasant. This is reputation insurance if nothing else.
Sabrina I. Pacifici at beSpacific pointed out that a report that CNN Announces Copyright Free Presidential Debate Footage.
Marie Kaddell at Federal Info Pro, wrote about Giving Libraries a Second Life in a Virtual World:
Paul Henriques, currently a contractor with the U.S. Postal Service Headquarters Corporate Library, Washington, D.C., shares his takeaways from a recent DC/SLA program on Second Life. Are you curious what all the buzz about Second Life is about? Read on and see what Paul has to say...
Patently-O ( USPTO Issues Preliminary Obviousness Examination Instructions ) and Filewrapper ( USPTO issues memo detailing preliminary obviousness instructions in light of KSR ) both noted that the USPTO has issued a memo to the technology center directors regarding examination of applications in light of KSR.
Rich Klein, President of Riverside Public Relations LLC, recommended "Book Yourself Solid" by Michael Port: I highly recommend both to any lawyer and chief marketing officer who is looking for fresh ideas about business development. "Book Yourself Solid" Has Much for Lawyers
Thomas O. Gorman, writing at SEC Actions, asked Insider Trading or Hard Work: Trading Before News Corp’s Bid for Dow Jones:
Suspicion abounds when trading picks up in advance of an announcement, particularly if it turns out to be a significant one. Sometimes the market-monitoring computers of the regulators signal possible anomalies, triggering an initial inquiry into “suspicious” trading to determine if there was illegal activity, such as, insider trading. Sometimes a flurry of trading generates a lot of finger pointing and head nodding coupled with suggestions that “it must have been” illegal insider trading. Sometimes it might be a sign of illegal activity. Other times it might just be the sign of a healthy market.
Brian Wolfman at the Consumer Law & Policy Blog, wrote:
The Seventh Circuit just issued a short, powerful decision concerning the Fair Credit Reporting Act's fundamental requirement that “[e]very consumer reporting agency shall, upon request . . . clearly and accurately disclose to the consumer [a]ll information in the consumer’s file at the time of the request.” 15 U.S.C. § 1681g(a)(1). In Gillespie v. Equifax Information Services, L.L.P., No. 06-1952 (May 3, 2007), the court reminded the world that a technically accurate disclosure is not necessarily a clear disclosure.
See Mr. Wolfman's post, Seventh Circuit: Under FCRA, Accuracy Doesn't Necessarily Mean Clarity, for the full story.
Dan Nunley at Oklahoma Family Law Blog ( Home Schooling and Child Custody Determinations in Oklahoma ) and Grant Griffiths at Kansas Family and Divorce Lawyer ( Home Schooling and Child Custody Determinations in Oklahoma ) both wrote about home schooling and child custody determinations: In making custody decisions, Oklahoma law prohibits a judge from giving a preference or a presumption for or against home schooling, private schooling, or public schooling.' 'See 43 O.S. 112 (C)(4).
Professor Paul Secunda at Workplace Prof Blog covered Law Schools, Tenure, and Accreditation:
The American Bar Association — at the urging of some law deans and to the dismay of many law professors — is considering an end to having tenure systems be one requirement for law school accreditation. A special task force of the ABA has been working on a set of recommendations about accreditation and will not submit its findings until next month. But reports about what the group may recommend, and what law deans have urged it to recommend, have been circulating in recent weeks — and e-mail has been flying among law professors.
Kevin Funnell at Bank Lawyer's Blog talked about continuing consolidation in the banking industry in his post Banks: The New Frontier?
And, finally, if you love patent work, stop by Stu's View's for a recently updated assemblage of Patent Cartoons.
Have a great Sunday...