Links & Law - Information about legal aspects of search engines, linking and framing

Hyperlink & Search Engine Law News  Decisions & Court Documents Worldwide Legal Resources (Hyperlink & Search Engine Law Articles) Linking Law Cases Search Engine Law Publications by Dr. Stephan Ott Technical    Background

USA: Jones Day v. Blockshopper.com - Hyperlink creates false impression of affiliation?

Blockshopper.com provides information about property transactions. One of their reports state the facts of real estate transactions of Jones Day associates, displays their pictures, and states the associates work for Jones Day. In addition, the report includes links to information about these associates appearing within Jones Day's website. Jones Day sued Blockshopper and alleges trademark infringement! Plaintiff contends Defendant's use of the Jones Day Marks and the links to the web site create the false impression that Jones Day is affiliated with/or approves, sponsors or endorses Defendant's business, which it does not.

Sounds ridiculous! That's pretty much, what the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is saying about the lawsuit: "some of the most preposterous trademark claims we've ever seen... If Jones Day were correct, no news site or blog could use marks to identify markholders, or links to point to further information about the markholders, without risking a lawsuit. But that is not the law, and Jones Day should know it."

 

 

 

Newsarchive

The Links & Law website is updated regularily, so  check back for updated information and resources about search engine and linking issues.

You are currently in the archive with older news. A complete list of the updates can be found here!
 

 
 

Masthead/Curriculum Vitae
Copyright © 2002-2008 Dr. Stephan Ott 

All Rights Reserved.

 

Google