A recent lawsuit in Texas highlights the challenges social media influencers face in protecting their intellectual property. Sydney Nicole Gifford, a well-known influencer, claims that Alyssa Sheil copied her “vibe,” – specifically her “clean girl” aesthetic...
Content By Kyle D. Stroup
The Cleveland Browns’ Battle Over Ohio’s Modell Law and Future Stadium Plans
On October 24, 2024, the Cleveland Browns filed a preemptive lawsuit in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, seeking a declaratory judgment to strike down Ohio’s "Modell Law" as unconstitutional. Such a declaration may permit the Browns to move...
Betting on Trump or Harris? US Federal Court of Appeals Says That’s Ok, For Now
Earlier this week, the financial services company Robinhood, which caters to retail investors, rolled out its derivative market for trading on the outcome of the upcoming United States presidential election. These trades are an example of “event derivative trading,”...
Federal Government Seeks to Hold Amazon Accountable for Dangerous Products
As Amazon maintains its chokehold on ecommerce sales, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is attempting to reclassify Amazon as a distributor of goods. If successful, this would expose Amazon to liability for third-party products sold on the...
A $13.85 Million NIL Deal Gone Wrong: Jaden Rashada Sues University of Florida
On May 21st, Jaden Rashada, a former top college football prospect, filed a lawsuit against prominent figures associated with the University of Florida (UF) football program, including UF coach Billy Napier, because of a failed name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal....
Ohio Liquor Permit Primer
Key Takeaways: Ohio issues three tiers of liquor permits to accommodate different businesses and establishments. A person/business can have only one permit per tier at a time for either manufacturing, wholesale distribution, or retail businesses. While the types of...
FTC Sues Amazon Over Its Monopoly Power
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reinforced its aggressive stance on enforcing antitrust laws by filing a federal lawsuit against Amazon on September 26, 2023. Seventeen other states have also joined in this legal action against Amazon. Per the FTC, “Amazon’s...
Creating a Do Not Sell List? Be Mindful of Antitrust Laws
In the ever-evolving landscape of ecommerce, businesses often face challenges maintaining control over distribution, preserving brand integrity and complying with antitrust laws. Two key aspects that arise in this context are Do Not Sell Lists, which are sometimes...
Supreme Court to Examine Free Speech Limits in “TRUMP TOO SMALL” Trademark Case
The intersection of free speech and private business branding is once again in front of the Supreme Court of the United States. On June 5th, the Supreme Court decided to hear Vidal v. Elster, Case 22-704, an appeal from the Federal Circuit. At issue in Vidal is the...
Amazon Prime’s Ongoing Battle Against Fake Reviews
E-commerce juggernaut Amazon continues to grapple with an issue that has plagued its platform—false reviews. Whether a false review is fabricated, biased, or does not genuinely reflect the experiences or opinions of customers, false reviews pose a problem for both...