Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

The Corporate CounselorLJN NewslettersNewsSections

Libeling Lawnmowers?

By Brian H. Corcoran

Everybody owns some type of tangible physical asset. Something made of metal for instance, such as an automobile. Imagine that you don't own just any old car, but a restored Shelby Cobra, a true American classic. You obtained the car “pre-owned,” at a bargain price, and then obliterated any savings made on the purchase by pouring significant dollars into the car's restoration. You love this car and derive great pleasure from it, having handpicked the model based on your extensive knowledge of cars and desire for the absolute best. You routinely show the car in vintage automobile shows and even occasionally race it, although you mainly use the car for pleasure.

Now imagine that you are informed that the automobile's original manufacturer, through its officers, has made public statements insinuating that the specific car you are driving is “no good” and that it should be junked because it was once in an accident and is, therefore, dangerous. You know this to be false; not only do you regularly drive the vehicle, but you had it restored perfectly and it is licensed as a vintage car. You are now concerned that the car's resale value has been destroyed, since the market for such cars is notably small, and “people talk.” The comments that the manufacturer made about your car not only rankle you, they may have injured you financially as well.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough Image

There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.

Judge Rules Shaquille O'Neal Will Face Securities Lawsuit for Promotion, Sale of NFTs Image

A federal district court in Miami, FL, has ruled that former National Basketball Association star Shaquille O'Neal will have to face a lawsuit over his promotion of unregistered securities in the form of cryptocurrency tokens and that he was a "seller" of these unregistered securities.

Blockchain Domains: New Developments for Brand Owners Image

Blockchain domain names offer decentralized alternatives to traditional DNS-based domain names, promising enhanced security, privacy and censorship resistance. However, these benefits come with significant challenges, particularly for brand owners seeking to protect their trademarks in these new digital spaces.

Coverage Issues Stemming from Dry Cleaner Contamination Suits Image

In recent years, there has been a growing number of dry cleaners claiming to be "organic," "green," or "eco-friendly." While that may be true with respect to some, many dry cleaners continue to use a cleaning method involving the use of a solvent called perchloroethylene, commonly known as perc. And, there seems to be an increasing number of lawsuits stemming from environmental problems associated with historic dry cleaning operations utilizing this chemical.

Why So Many Great Lawyers Stink at Business Development and What Law Firms Are Doing About It Image

Why is it that those who are best skilled at advocating for others are ill-equipped at advocating for their own skills and what to do about it?