“The nonprofit library cooperative that owns the Dewey Decimal system has filed suit against a library-themed luxury hotel in Manhattan for trademark infringement. The Library Hotel, which overlooks the New York Public Library, is divided according to the classification system, with each floor dedicated to one of Dewey’s 10 categories. Room 700.003 includes books on the performing arts, for example, while room 800.001 has a collection of erotic literature.” A lawyer for the library group, Joseph Dreitler, claims a “person who came to (the hotel’s) Web site … would think they were passing themselves off as connected with the owner of the Dewey Decimal Classification system.” Eugene Volokh (Sept. 21) makes short work of this argument and classifies the action as a cousin to Fox v. Franken in trademark law abuse. The suit demands triple the hotel’s profits since its opening. (AP/Wired News, Sept. 20; Kevin Drum; Perfidy.org; Hill-Kleerup.org). Update Nov. 29: case settled.
Chronicling the high cost of our legal system
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Point of Law- "Trial Lawyers Inc. -- K Street"The Manhattan Institute report on plaintiff's bar lobbying is now online. Coverage: John O'Brien, Legal NewsLine, Blog of Legal Times.... […]Walter Olson
- Note: Today's Trial Lawyers, Inc.: K Street Live Event Now an Online Presentation / Conference CallIMPORTANT NOTE: To anyone who was planning on attending MI's live event on Capitol Hill this afternoon, at which we were to unveil the newest Trial Lawyers, Inc. report, Trial Lawyers, Inc.: K Street--A Report on the Litigation Lobby 2010,... […]James R. Copland
- Florida Smoker's $300 Million Award to Be ReducedThe largest individual award to a Florida smoker will be reduced, Judge Jeffrey Streitfeld (Broward County Circuit Court) ruled Friday. [Here's the story on Law.com] Judge Streitfeld called the $300 million jury verdict, rendered months ago, "excessive" and "shocking," based... […]Michael Krauss
- How the Plaintiffs Bar Bought the SenateIn today's Wall Street Journal, I have an opinion piece that explains how the plaintiffs' bar is using its campaign-funding largesse to buy political influence: Since 1990, the sums donated to federal political candidates by lawyers--excluding lobbyists--exceed $1 billion, according... […]James R. Copland
- "CSX Chases Plaintiff Firm Over Asbestos""A railroad company's dogged pursuit of conspiracy and fraud charges against an asbestos law firm is unfolding in a federal appellate court and with a major assist from business and tort reform groups." [Marcia Coyle, NLJ]... […]Walter Olson
- "Trial Lawyers Inc. -- K Street"
Media Bloggers Association
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MTV Is Looking In the Wrong Places
No matter how hard we search for the person who will do something totally outrageous for money or for the…
Dewey Protection
A lot of people have been following and commenting on the story of how OCLC is suing the Library Hotel…
Making the Most of the Blogosphere
I finally found my notes from last month’s talk at the Internet Librarian conference. It was really Greg’s show, and he did a fantastic job talking about how to make the most of the blogosphere from an information foraging perspective….
Making the Most of the Blogosphere
I finally found my notes from last month’s talk at the Internet Librarian conference. It was really Greg’s show, and he did a fantastic job talking about how to make the most of the blogosphere from an information foraging perspective….
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