Consumer Protection Law Commons^™

The Apathy Economy: Patents, Advertising, And Consumer Indifference, Gavin J. Milczarek-Desai, Derek E. Bambauer

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

Patents function as signals as well as rights to exclude. They inform competitors, investors, employees, and consumers about the invention and its owner. How this information affects consumers is not well understood. Existing studies disagree about how advertising a product or service as patented, or patent pending, affects the price consumers will pay. This Article offers the first major empirical study of that question andfinds that consumers behave with surprising rationality: they will not pay any price premium for a patented product. A product's patent status conveys little information about whether it is superior to competing offerings. The results hold …

The Shifting Economics Of Influencer Sponsorship Disclosures, Uri Y. Hacohen

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

Conventional wisdom holds that disclosing influencer sponsorship diminishes advertising's effectiveness by triggering consumer skepticism. Responding to this perceived transparency gap, regulators have adopted mandatory disclosure regimes to address a perceived market failure: the divergence between private commercial incentives and the public interest in transparency. This Article challenges that assumption. Drawing on a large-scale social media experiment (N=600), it demonstrates that disclosures not only increase consumers' recognition of advertising but also improve their attitudes toward both influencers and brands, while significantly boosting their willingness to share promotional content. These empirical results are further supported by a comprehensive synthesis of the emerging …

Empowering Digital Consent: A Risk-Focused Due Diligence Tool, Bar Fargon Mizrahi

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

We live in an era of almost infinite digital interactions, many of which involve risks to our rights stemming from various problematic practices, such as data-protection infringements, user profiling, and consumer protection violations. Currently, the protection of digital consumers against these risks rests primarily on a "notice-and-consent" regulatory model-users are legally presumed to have consented to the terms of service (ToS) and privacy policy agreements (PPAs) of the digital services they use. In reality, despite the gravity of the risks involved, users routinely fail to study these binding agreements. Thus, it is widely accepted that this model is ineffective at …

Duped: The Implications Of The Proliferaiton Of Superfake Luxury Goods And What Consumers May Not Have Considered, Riann Colbert

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The proliferation of "Superfake" luxury goods, which are high-quality counterfeit items nearly indistinguishable from authentic products, poses significant challenges to trademark law, consumer protection, and the broader economy. These items, often sold through e-commerce platforms, not only undermine legitimate businesses but also expose consumers to health risks, support organized crime, and perpetuate environmental harm. The note advocates for enhanced legal frameworks and consumer education to mitigate these issues.

Lost In Translation: The Limits Of Explainability In Al, Hofit Wasserman-Rozen, Ran Gilad-Bachrach, Niva Elkin-Koren

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, regulators are increasingly turning to legal measures, like "a right to explanation," to protect against potential risks raised by AI systems. However, are eXplainable AI (XAI) tools-the artificial intelligence tools that provide such explanations-up for the task?

This paper critically examines XAI's potential to facilitate the right to explanation by applying the prism of explanation's role in law to different stakeholders. Inspecting the underlying functions of reason-giving reveals different objectives for each of the stakeholders involved. From the perspective of a decision-subject, reason-giving facilitates due process and acknowledges human agency. From a decision-maker's perspective, …

Deceptive By Nature: A Model For Regulating Native And Embedded Advertising In The Contexts Of Children's Audiences, Zach Cihlar

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The note advocates for enhanced regulatory measures to protect children from deceptive native and embedded advertising in digital media. It emphasizes the need for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to expand its regulatory framework to classify such advertising as deceptive, leveraging existing laws like the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTCA) and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The proposed model suggests a combination of stricter regulations, parental involvement through technology, and strengthened self-regulatory mechanisms to address the challenges posed by modern advertising formats.

Introductory Remarks, Carly Rothstein

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

This introductory remark explores the implications of recent Supreme Court decisions in Bad Spaniels and Andy Warhol on intellectual property law, focusing on the evolving landscape of copyright and trademark protections. It highlights the challenges and opportunities these rulings present for balancing artistic expression, cultural norms, and legal frameworks. The symposium serves as a platform for scholars and practitioners to discuss these developments and their broader impact on IP law and policy.

Blockchain, The Superhero That The Healthcare Industry Needs, Victor Wang

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The note argues that blockchain technology holds significant potential for transforming the healthcare industry by enhancing data security and efficiency. However, its integration faces legal challenges due to conflicts with existing healthcare laws, particularly the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the HITECH Act. The note contends that blockchain's decentralized and immutable nature violates key HIPAA requirements, such as data disposal and accountability standards. It advocates for updating these laws to accommodate blockchain technology and ensure compliance, emphasizing the need for legal frameworks to evolve alongside technological advancements.

Pay No Attention To The Influencer Behind The Curtain, Eliza Logan

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The note argues that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) must strengthen its regulation of social media influencers, particularly on platforms like Instagram, due to their significant influence on consumer behavior and the potential for deceptive marketing practices. It emphasizes that influencers should be held accountable similarly to advertising agencies, as their unique ability to build trust and authenticity with followers makes their endorsements more impactful than traditional advertising.

The Ftc's "Made In America" Enforcement Policy Is Too Stringent For Small Businesses To Comply With, Jamie Cutler

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The note argues that the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) "Made in America" policy is overly stringent and disproportionately burdensome for small businesses. The policy requires products labeled as "Made in America" to contain "all or virtually all" parts and processing from the U.S., a standard that is often ambiguous, economically prohibitive, and misaligned with consumer perceptions. The note contends that this strict enforcement creates a "Hobson's choice" for small businesses, making it infeasible for them to comply without suffering financial harm or reputational damage. It advocates for lowering the threshold to allow more flexibility, which would support small businesses, promote …

Opening Remarks, Christopher J. Buccafusco, Matthew Vernace

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Strengths And Weaknesses Of Notice And Consent Requirements Under The Gdpr, The Ccpa/Cpra, And The Fcc Broadband Privacy Order, Scott Jordan

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

We compare the notice and consent requirements of the three recent privacy regulations that are most likely to serve as the starting points for the creation of a comprehensive consumer privacy bill in the United States: the European General Data Protection Regulation, the Calfornia Consumer Privacy Act/California Privacy Rights Act, and the Federal Communications Commission's Broadband Privacy Order. We compare the scope of personal information under each regulation, including the test for identifiability and exclusions for de-identified information, and identify problems with their treatment of de-identified information and of pseudonymous information. We compare notice requirements, including the level of required …

Opening Remarks, Anna Antonova, Michael Burstein

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The article celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Lanham Act, reflecting on its enduring influence on trademark law while addressing its evolution in response to new legal and technological challenges. It highlights the symposium's exploration of the Act's history, its adaptation to modern issues such as internet-related disputes and First Amendment concerns, and its continued relevance in shaping intellectual property law. The piece also underscores the role of the Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal as a leading platform for scholarly discourse in intellectual property and related fields.

Is It Really A #Ad? An Increase In Rising Influencers Posting Fake Sponsored Content, Amanda Guzman

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Trademark Enforcement And Statutory Incentives, Leah Chan Grinvald

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The combination of the recent U.S. Supreme Court case, Romag Fasteners v. Fossil Group, Inc., and the diamond anniversary of the Lanham Act provides good grounds to reflect on how trademark enforcement and statutory incentives have evolved through the years. Although enforcement of one's trademarks through the use of the courts can be traced back to England in the 1790s, trademark litigation and other enforcement activities have exploded, in relative terms, since the enactment of the Lanham Act in 1946. Although not subject to an easy empirical correlation, this trend suggests that the statute has had an impact on increasing …

Where Victims Of Data Breach Stand: Why The Breach Of Personally Identifying Information Should Be Federally Codified As Sufficient Standing For Data Breach Causes Of Action, Gabriela Nastasi

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

One Consumer’S Trash Is Another’S Treasure: Upcycling’S Place In Trademark Law, Jolie Brett Schenerman

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The note argues that upcycling, the process of creating new, high-value products from salvaged materials, should be protected under trademark law's fair use doctrine. It contends that upcycling, unlike traditional infringement, does not confuse consumers about the source of goods and instead creates transformative works that benefit both sustainability and brand relevance. The analysis draws parallels between upcycling and parody, advocating for similar legal protections, and highlights the evolving relationship between luxury brands and upcyclers, from litigation to collaboration.

The Peculiar Case Of State Network Neutrality Regulation, Thomas B. Nachbar

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

In the wake of the FCC's recent decision to rescind federal network neutrality rules, several states have implemented their own network neutrality regulations, some in the form of procurement conditions on state contracts and others affirmative mandates requiring broadband Internet service providers to observe neutrality in providing service. The federal government and industry trade associations have challenged the state network neutrality laws as both preempted and unconstitutional under the "dormant Commerce Clause" doctrine.

This paper analyzes those state restrictions as a matter of constitutional law. The Court has recently changed dormant Commerce Clause law, liberalizing those limits with regard to …

Is It Reasonable To Block Unreasonable Advertisements? An Examination Of The Legality Of Ad-Blockers, Andrew Steele

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Reaching For The Stars: A Proposal To The Ftc To Help Deter Astroturfing And Fake Reviews, Matthew Barish

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Ride Oversharing: Privacy Regulation Within The Gig Economy, Casey Thomas

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Will Blog For Food: Sponsored Content In The Age Of Millennials, Elina Rakhlin

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Panel 1: False Advertising, Ashima Dayal, Jeffrey Greenbaum, Jen Lavie, Rebecca Tushnet, Brett Frischmann

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Technology, Gender And Fashion, Jeanne L. Schroeder

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Are You Faux Real? An Examination Of Art Forgery And The Legal Tools Protecting Art Collectors, Leila A. Amineddoleh

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Introductions, Tatsuya Adachi

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Internet Protocol Television And The Challenge Of "Mission Critical" Bits, Rob Frieden

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

A Legislative Pendency Proposal To Address The Consumer Harm Caused By The Broken Retransmission System, Marla S. Merchut

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Information Overload: Why Omnipresent Technology And The Rise Of Big Data Shouldn’T Spell The End For Privacy As We Know It, Devin W. Ness

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

A Deference To Protocol: Fashioning A Three-Dimensional Public Policy Framework For The Internet Age, Richard S. Whitt

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

This Article discusses how public policy grounded in the Internet's architecture can best ensure that the Net fully enables tangible benefits such as innovation, economic growth, free expression, and user empowerment. In particular, recognizing that the Internet is rapidly becoming society's chief operating system, this Article shows how an overarching public policy framework should be faithful to the multifaceted nature of the online world. As part of such a framework, this Article will explore one key aspect of the Internet: the "logical" Middle Layers functions, its inner workings derived from open software protocols and inclusive, decentralized processes. Adhering to the …