Keywords
lanham act, section 43(a), false advertising, standing, direct competitor, circuit split
Abstract
Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act provides a federal cause of action for false advertising. There is considerable disagreement among the federal circuit courts over the proper way to determine standing under this statute. Much of the disagreement centers on how the plaintiff's status as a direct competitor of the defendant should affect the standing inquiry. This Note argues that the five-factor test currently used by the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Third, Fifth, and Eleventh Circuits is the best approach. Further, this Note argues that an allegation of a commercial injury by a direct competitor of the defendant satisfies this test.
Recommended Citation
Gregory Apgar,
Prudential Standing Limitations on Lanham Act False Advertising Claims,
76 Fordham L. Rev. 2389
(2008).
Available at: https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/flr/vol76/iss5/4