News

RPJ’s Gregory P. Feit Quoted in Law360 on Patagonia-Pattie Gonia Trademark Dispute

RPJ’s Gregory P. Feit was recently featured in a Law360 article examining the intersection of trademark enforcement, parody, commercial speech, and brand protection in the closely watched dispute between outdoor apparel company Patagonia and environmental activist and drag performer “Pattie Gonia.” The case centers on a trademark infringement lawsuit filed...

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RPJ’s Gregory Feit Weighs In on the SEC’s Semiannual Reporting Proposal and Investor Litigation Risks in Bloomberg Law

A recent article from Bloomberg Law discusses the Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposal to allow companies to shift from quarterly to semiannual financial reporting, raising concerns and questions about the potential resulting impact on securities fraud and related investor lawsuits. While fewer company reports may reduce the frequency of stock...

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Coleman v. Grand:  Navigating the Fact-Opinion Divide in Sexual Misconduct Defamation Claims

by Gregory P. Feit When accusations of sexual harassment or assault are made public, the alleged perpetrators will not infrequently respond by filing defamation claims against their accusers.  For a recent, especially high-profile example, see Justin Baldoni’s countersuit against Blake Lively.[1] Allegations of sexual harassment that would otherwise be defamatory...

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Second Circuit Permits Sua Sponte Raising Of “Fair Use” Defense For Non-Appearing Defendant

By Gregory Feit Consider the following scenario: A professional photographer sues a company for copyright infringement, alleging that the company displayed her copyright-protected photograph on its website without her authorization.  Although properly served with the photographer’s complaint, the company never appears in the lawsuit.  The photographer moves for a default...

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RPJ’s Gregory P. Feit Featured in “Charter Works” Article on Texas Federal Court’s Ruling that “ESG Investing” Is Illegal in 401(k) Funds

In a recent interview for Charter Works, RPJ’s Gregory P. Feit discusses the January 10, 2025 federal court ruling in Texas, which declared that ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing is illegal in managing 401(k) funds. The case, Spence v. American Airlines, Inc., revolves around BlackRock’s management of American Airlines...

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Second Circuit: Purchase Of Search Engine Keyword That Is Competitor’s Mark Does Not, Standing Alone, Constitute Infringement

By Gregory P. Feit Last month, in 1-800 Contacts, Inc. v. JAND, Inc., DBA Warby Parker, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit addressed whether purchasing a competitor’s trademarks in the context of keyword search advertising amounts to trademark infringement. Adopting what it termed the “consensus view,”...

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