Related Issues: No Downtime for Free Speech Campaign
Jones Day v Blockshopper
EFF and Public Citizen, joined by Public Knowledge and Citizen Media Law Project, have urged a federal judge in Chicago to dismiss a law firm's baseless trademark claims, which were apparently aimed at quashing speech by an online news site.
The firm of Jones Day filed the lawsuit against the real estate news site Blockshopper.com, alleging that using its trademark "Jones Day" to refer to the firm in a headline and linking to the Jones Day website could lead to confusion over the sponsorship of the site. In its amicus brief, EFF and Public Citizen argue that these routine references to Jones Day are well-established fair uses of a trademark and clearly protected by the First Amendment.
Documents
- November 13, 2008 Opinion denying dismissal[PDF, 328.16 KB]
- September 19, 2008 Amicus brief[PDF, 81.54 KB]
Press Releases
- September 19, 2008 Law Firm Uses Bogus Trademark Claim in Attempt to Silence Online News Site
Deeplinks Posts
- November 17, 2008 Judge Allows Bogus Jones Day Trademark Claims to Go Forward
In The News
- MEDIAPOST | November 20, 2008 Blockshopper Calls In The Cavalry To Defend Against Suit
- ARS TECHNICA | September 23, 2008 EFF: claim that consent needed for linking is "preposterous"
- MEDIAPOST | September 23, 2008 Digital Rights Advocates: Law Firm Out Of Order

