March 2015

Blimpie Blown Up by TCPA Junk Fax Class Action?

March 18, 2015 On March 12, 2015, a class action lawsuit was filed against Blimpie International, Inc. (“Blimpie”) and other entities, alleging violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”).  Specifically, the complaint alleges that Blimpie violated the TCPA by sending unsolicited “junk faxes” to businesses and individuals throughout the country.  The plaintiff seeks to […]

Blimpie Blown Up by TCPA Junk Fax Class Action? Read More »

Iowa Bill Legalizing Fantasy Sports Approved by Iowa Senate

March 13, 2015 As discussed on this blog recently, a group of lawmakers in Iowa have been pushing matching bills in the Iowa House and Senate (Senate Study Bill 1068 and House Study Bill 47), in an effort to specifically exempt certain fantasy sports contests from Iowa’s otherwise broad-reaching anti-gambling laws.  This legislative effort is

Iowa Bill Legalizing Fantasy Sports Approved by Iowa Senate Read More »

FTC Lawsuit Accuses DIRECTV of Deceptive Advertising, ROSCA Violations

March 13, 2015 This Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC or Commission”) sued satellite television service provider DirecTV, Inc. and its subsidiary (“DIRECTV”) in federal court in San Francisco.  The Commission has accused DIRECTV of violating the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (“ROSCA”) with purportedly deceptive advertising and sales practices.

FTC Lawsuit Accuses DIRECTV of Deceptive Advertising, ROSCA Violations Read More »

Kansas Takes a Step Toward Legalizing Fantasy Sports

March 12, 2015 In August 2014, the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission issued an opinion that fantasy sports contests that require an entry fee to participate, and that pay out cash prizes, constitute illegal lotteries under Kansas State law.  Based on that Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission opinion, many high profile pay-to-play fantasy sports venues

Kansas Takes a Step Toward Legalizing Fantasy Sports Read More »

Jury Finds Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke Guilty of Copyright Infringement

March 12, 2015 On March 20, 2015, a jury awarded $7.4 million to the family of artist Marvin Gaye for Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke’s alleged infringement of Gaye’s song “Got to Give it Up.”  Gaye’s family alleged that Pharrell and Thicke’s song “Blurred Lines” infringed Gaye’s intellectual property rights.  Although many have viewed the

Jury Finds Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke Guilty of Copyright Infringement Read More »

First Target of Canada’s Anti-Spam Law (CASL), Fined $1.1 Million

March 11, 2015 Last week, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (“CRTC” or the “Commission”) issued its first Notice of Violation under Canada’s Anti-Spam Law (“CASL”).  Canadian corporate training company compu.finder Inc. (“Compu-Finder”) has received a fine of $1.1 million for allegedly sending email without the recipients’ consent or a properly functioning unsubscribe mechanism. What

First Target of Canada’s Anti-Spam Law (CASL), Fined $1.1 Million Read More »