Parties often use a confidentiality agreement to protect against disclosure of trade secrets. Even without a confidentiality agreement, persons are prohibited from misappropriating other’s trade secrets under Louisiana law. But how much protection does a confidentiality agreement or Louisiana law really afford?
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Business and Corporate
To Floss or Not to Floss: Mouthwash Ad Campaign Raises Lanham Act Issues
By Sonny Chastain on
Posted in Business and Corporate, Intellectual Property
The Lanham Act was passed in 1946 pursuant to Congress’ power to regulate commerce. Section 43 of the Act prohibits false and misleading advertising, stating that “any person who uses in commerce any false or misleading description of fact, or false or misleading representation of fact, which . . . in commercial advertising or promotion, misrepresents the nature, characteristics, qualities, or geographic origin of his or her or another person’s goods, services, or commercial activities, shall be liable in a civil action by any person who believes that he or she is likely to be damaged by such an act.” This section of the Act was at the center of a recent Listerine ad campaign.
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Chalk One Up for the Landlords: Use Clauses Must be Honored in Tenants’ Bankruptcies
By Dean Cazenave on
Posted in Business and Corporate
After twenty years of fighting tenant-favorable bankruptcy decisions on lease assignments, landlords have won a major victory. The case of In re Trak Auto Corporation v. West Town Center, LLC, 2004 WL 856859 (4th Cir.), decided April 22, 2004, could be a turning point in upholding a landlord’s rights to enforce lease restrictions on use, alterations and other operating issues.
The issue revolved around a limitation in the Trak lease that permitted only the retail sale of automobile parts and accessories and such other items as are customarily sold by Trak at its other auto stores. Trak also agreed to use the leased property only as a Trak Auto Store.
Continue Reading Chalk One Up for the Landlords: Use Clauses Must be Honored in Tenants’ Bankruptcies