Today's [7/25] Cases

Three cases/updates for this Monday.


1. Christian Louboutin S.A. et al v. Yves Saint Laurent America, Inc. et al - 1:11-cv-02381

(http://www.louboutin-onlineshop.com/UploadFile/20090419/20090419061141.JPG)

• Judge Victor Marrero has yet to come to a decision in the Louboutin v. YSL America case; Christian Louboutin S.A. is filing suit against YSL to prevent YSL's sales of red-soled shoes {the well-known Louboutin trademark}. Judge Marrero's awaited ruling will not simply affect the sale of YSL shoes, but also the fashion industry as a whole as it will set a precedent--whether or not a company can brand a "color". I will follow up in a new post whenever he reaches his decision.

2. ConnectU, Inc. v. Facebook, Inc. et al - 1:07-cv-10593

• (Follow-up on my 07/19 post) Friday, Massachusettes Judge Douglas Woodlock decided to toss the suit that the Winklevosses and Narendra (ConnectU) had against Zuckerberg (Facebook).

3. LaChapelle v. Fenty - 1:11-cv-00945





(http://cdn03.cdnwp.celebuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/01/rihanna-sm-video4-580x435.jpg)


• This past Valentines' Day, LaChapelle filed a suit against Rihanna (/ her S&M music-video-makers) for taking ideas from his photography portfolio for her S&M music video. "U.S. District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin said photographer David LaChapelle had successfully demonstrated that Robyn Rihanna Fenty, known professionally as Rihanna, record label Island Def Jam Group, video producer Black Dog Films Inc. and video director Melina Matsoukas copied eight of his still photographs in creating the music video for the Rihanna song 'S&M.'" Judge Scheindlin threw out the allegations of "unjust enrichment", "trade dress infringement" and "unfair competition". "The 'S&M' video, which depicts the singer in a number of sadomasochistic poses and situations, was released on Feb. 1. According to LaChapelle's complaint, various scenes from the video match up with eight still photographs produced and copyrighted by the photographer." {http://www.law360.com/ip/articles/259778}

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I recorded in Los Angeles this past Saturday with two friends [both of whom I will be working with from now on]--Miren Edelstien (violin) & Robert English (cajon)--and Matt Blankenship (vocals) from FluxCity. In sum, it was an absolutely incredible experience--quite unlike anything I'd ever done (besides when I recorded at Ex'pression with one of my old bands, Pear Waffles [but that was only a keyboard and drum set]).




Left to right: Robert, Matt, Angel, & Miren @ the studio, post-recording

 At the studio, I met and worked with Alex (vocals), Brittany (violin), Corinne (viola), Aaron (cello), two videographers, &Angel Figueroa (hand percussion & mixing/mastering).
It was a great group of musicians to work with and I can't wait to see how the website/video turns out (in a week or so)!

Everybody has to start (again) somewhere

This is the beginning, according to Aristotle; an unpublished blog post, the letter A.
I've authored a couple online blogs previously, none of which I used for any particular purpose, aside from spewing random thoughts out into the universe via the world wide web (helping nourish the inherent narcissism within myself--the same narcissism that nests inside each of us, perpetuated by blog postings, facebook status updates, twitter tweets--each and every dopamine high {* Samina Lutfeali} obtained from seeing a little, red facebook flag signaling a new notification or message, believing that anyone besides yourself really values your opinion enough to read your surely inconsistent ramblings)...

Yes, with that said, I have returned to the online journal.

Why?
Because I'd rather blog than start an underground secretive fight club. [duh]
Because it's the mindless thing to do--to type out the thoughts that enter your mind.
Because I have always taken to keeping an account of happenings in my life--mild athazagoraphobia.
Because now that I am living the working life, it is just something else to do in the few waking hours I spend each weekday not at work or playing music.
Because I have neither a roommate nor boyfriend to bother [hahaha].
Because I love the clicking sound of the keyboard when I type.
Because now that I've graduated, I need a new form of procrastination.
Because (as aforementioned) it's an ego boost when you think your thoughts are valuable enough to post on the web.
Because I can [ <-- terrible].
Because I don't have to justify myself when I don't want to-- or I can overjustify myself (like so) if I'm in the mood.


*The formal justification:
I am starting this blog because I would like to share my thoughts on cases I find intriguing as well as stories of my musical endeavors; I work at a law firm that subscribes to Law360 and opted-in to receive their daily newsletters which I quickly peruse each morning before going about my daily business. There is always a case or two that catches my eye, and I figure I would get the most out of the daily e-newsletters if I write up a synopsis about each case that I deem interesting each day (so between one and ten cases per day) :].
I also am an aspiring musician; I have studio time this coming Saturday thanks to http://www.fluxcity.com/ and have gained a small following thanks to Skrillex posting a few of my arrangements on his facebook artist page. And of course, as with each blog, I will throw in a couple personal anecdotes from time to time--which may or may not be law/music-related.

A couple of my arrangements [all transribed alone by yours truly, by ear] from earlier this year (in order of which I am proudest):

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b5AbCknZrs
2. http://www.facebook.com/skrillex/posts/123345304407373
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v​=r-siMUVTro4
4. http://www.facebook.com/skrillex/posts/219870104701833

Hmm, signing off my first post with my new legal and music blog, I have congratulate my friend and fellow Cal grad, Alex Morgan; practically all of America (and much of the world) has heard your name by now :] We all couldn't be prouder of your performance in your first world cup--a goal and an assist in the final.

I found the following article of The Seattle Times interviewing Serva:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soundersfcblog/2015652385_servando_carrasco_proud_of_gir.html
(Definitely my favorite couple.)