Arkansas Business Litigation Blog

The Arkansas Business Litigation Blog focuses on Arkansas business law and 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals developments in intellectual property (patent, trademark, copyright, trade secrets and covenants not to compete).

Author: The blawg is authored by H. William Allen, managing partner of the Allen Law Firm in Little Rock, Ark., as well as the firm's associates: Christian Harris, Brooks C. White, and Kevin M. Lemley.

Blawg Related Categories: Appellate Practice • Civil Procedure • Consumer Law • Contracts • Intellectual Property Law • Copyright Law • Patent Law • Trademark Law • Trials & Litigation • 8th Circuit Court • States • Arkansas • Solo / Small Firm

Recent Posts from Arkansas Business Litigation Blog

Arkansas Supreme Court Rejects Eastern District's Prempro Decision; Affirms Certification of Nationwide Class Action
In a powerful example of Arkansas's "liberalized" class-action procedure, the Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed Miller County Circuit Court Judge James Scott Hudson's certification of a nationwide product-liability class action. General Motors Corporation v. Boyd Bryant,…
Arkansas Court of Appeals Upholds Dismissal of Breach of Sales Contract Based On Forum Selection Clause; Counterclaim for Equitable Value of Use of Property Did Not Waive Clause
The Arkansas Court of Appeals affirmed Sebastian County Circuit Judge James O. Cox's dismissal based on a forum-selection clause in New Life Beauty Center, Inc.'s v. Palomar Medical Technologies, LLC. New Life sued Palomar for…
Variances in State Laws Have no Effect on Arkansas Class Action Certification
The Arkansas Supreme Court handed out a big decision on Arkansas class action law: General Motors Corp. v. Bryant, No. 07-437 (6/19/08). The claim is that General Motors sold trucks and SUVs with a defective parking…
Microsoft Files Arkansas Trademark and Copyright Infringement Case
Microsoft has filed a lawsuit alleging trademark infringement and copyright infringement. See Microsoft Corp. v. Delta Computer Experts, LLC, No. 08-0168 (E.D. Ark., filed 6/9/08). According to the complaint, defendants distributed unauthorized copies of Microsoft…
Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act Cannot Apply to the Practice of Law
The Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed dismissal in Preston v. Stoops, No. 07-805 (6/5/08). Stoops filed a lawsuit on behalf of Preston in Pulaski County. The case was dismissed because Stoops, an Oklahoma attorney, was not licensed…
Summary Judgment Reversed in Another MBNA America Case
This time the case is Helton v. MBNA America Bank, N.A., No. 07-759 (6/4/08), another MBNA America arbitration case that follows Danner v. MBNA, (previously posted 4/27/07), MBNA v. Blanks (previously posted 9/19/07) and MBNA v. Gilbert (previously…
Arkansas Has Jurisdiction Over Virginia Resident
The Arkansas Court of Appeals reversed dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction in Roberts v. Bendos, No. 07-903 (6/4/08). Bendos lives in Virginia; she hired Roberts to pursue a wrongful death action on behalf of…
U.S. Supreme Court Denies Certiorari in Baseball Statistics Right of Publicity Case
We previously posted (10/16/07) the Eighth Circuit's decision in C.B.C Distribution and Marketing, Inc. v. MLB Advanced Media, L.P., holding that use of baseball players' names and statistics in fantasy games did not violate the players' rights of publicity.…
Mountain Home Relocation Guide Subject of Arkansas Copyright Lawsuit
A copyright infringement lawsuit has been filed over a relocation guide. Ellis v. Black, No. 08-3025 (W.D. Ark., filed 5/30/08). According to the complaint, Ellis owns the copyright to Relocation Guide Mountain Home, Arkansas. Ellis…
Benefit Resource Fails to Get Preliminary Injunction for Trade Secret Misappropriation and False Advertising
The District Court of Minnesota denied a preliminary injunction based on trade secret misappropriation and false advertising in Benefit Resource, Inc. v. Apprize Technology Solutions, Inc., 2008 WL 2080977 (D. Minn. 5/15/08). BRI owns a…