Sarah Fackrell<p>Friendly Jesus update: Hallmark has filed a response in opposition to the motion to expedite the appeal:
<a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/902149009/Hallmark-Licensing-LLC-v-Hongkong-Yueqi-Tech-Ltd-opposition-to-expedite" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.scribd.com/document/902...</a> <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a><span class="quote-inline"><br><br>RE: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lw5kgg3izs2t" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lw5kgg3izs2t</a></span><br><br><a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/902149009/Hallmark-Licensing-LLC-v-Hongkong-Yueqi-Tech-Ltd-opposition-to-expedite" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Hallmark Licensing, LLC v. Hon...</a></p>
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#schedulea
20 posts · 4 participants · 0 posts today
Sarah Fackrell<p>Amazingly, there were some <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> plaintiffs before Judge Kness who did *not* dismiss their cases in light of his "full stop" orders.
Now, he's denying their motions and citing Eicher Motors.</p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>In good <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> (and design patent) news: Judge Durkin was affirmed: <a href="https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/24-1471.OPINION.8-14-2025_2558427.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-ord...</a><span class="quote-inline"><br><br>RE: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lvq62bbqxs2r" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lvq62bbqxs2r</a></span><br><br><a href="https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/24-1471.OPINION.8-14-2025_2558427.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-order...</a></p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>One big takeaway from this decision:
Judges don't have to do this.
They don't have to exercise their discretion in the ways that are necessary to make the <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> model cost-effective (even profitable).
They can change their minds. They can say no.<span class="quote-inline"><br><br>RE: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lw5awavopk2p" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lw5awavopk2p</a></span></p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>Note that this is a judge who is new to <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a>, who hasn't been worn down yet.<span class="quote-inline"><br><br>RE: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lwbqtbkcjc2y" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lwbqtbkcjc2y</a></span></p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>Kansas judge rules that conclusory affidavits aren't enough to prove irreparable injury at the preliminary injunction stage. That wouldn't be newsworthy in a normal case. But this is a <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> case.<span class="quote-inline"><br><br>RE: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lwbqqc4bys2y" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lwbqqc4bys2y</a></span></p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>This is an unusually thoughtful discussion of the balance of equities. All too often in <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> cases, the judges basically just say "well, it's IP so the equities favor an injunction."</p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>The judge has DENIED the motion for a preliminary injunction (n the Kansas <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> case: Potato Ventures v. Schedule A No. 2:25-cv-2312, 2025 WL 2256204 (D. Kan. Aug. 7, 2025).
<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ksd.158466/gov.uscourts.ksd.158466.49.0.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...</a><span class="quote-inline"><br><br>RE: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lti5lasqi223" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lti5lasqi223</a></span><br><br><a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ksd.158466/gov.uscourts.ksd.158466.49.0.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco...</a></p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>And as <a class="mention h-card" href="https://bsky.app/profile/hewittlaw.bsky.social" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@hewittlaw.bsky.social</a> has pointed out, this is asymmetric: In current practice, there aren't special rules for <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> cases. There are special rules for Schedule A plaintiffs. The defendants have to play by the normal rules.<span class="quote-inline"><br><br>RE: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lwbnzbkhbs2y" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lwbnzbkhbs2y</a></span></p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>This is the entire theory behind several facets of the <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> model: Counterfeiting is bad so we should get to play by different rules. But this conclusion absolutely does not follow from that premise. For more on all of this, see:<br><br><a href="https://harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-138/the-counterfeit-sham/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Counterfeit Sham - Harvard...</a></p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>For more on what counterfeiting is and is not, as well as a discussion of how <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> plaintiffs have used counterfeit rhetoric to convince judges to grant them extraordinary relief, see:<br><br><a href="https://harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-138/the-counterfeit-sham/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Counterfeit Sham - Harvard...</a></p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>"'I think that Judge Kness has really challenged his Northern District of Illinois judicial colleagues to defend their choices,' [ <a class="mention h-card" href="https://bsky.app/profile/ericgoldman.bsky.social" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@ericgoldman.bsky.social</a> ] said. 'I just don't see how his colleagues can ignore his decision.'"
(Side note: Not all <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> cases involve counterfeiting.)<br><br><a href="https://www.law360.com/ip/articles/2375791?nl_pk=38aa5b07-13bc-4e40-b2ed-185a19777e7a" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Chicago Judge Signals Shift In...</a></p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>In <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> cases, the joinder allegations are often based (expressly or implicitly) on the fact that the defendants allegedly infringe the same copyright/trademark/patent.
This complaint appears to go beyond that, suing defendants who allegedly infringed two very different sets of works.<span class="quote-inline"><br><br>RE: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lw7hamjnzs2r" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lw7hamjnzs2r</a></span></p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>So, is <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> over? Not quite yet. This is just one judge and there are still lots of other judges in the NDIL (not to mention other districts).
I suspect that the immediate reaction of the Schedule A plaintiffs' bar, therefore, will be forum-shopping. And even more judge-shopping.</p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>Big <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> news:
After several months of consideration, Judge Kness has concluded that "the Schedule A mechanism should no longer be perpetuated in its present form."
Eicher Motors v. Schedule A, No. 1:25-CV-02937, 2025 WL 2299593, at *1 (N.D. Ill. Aug. 8, 2025).<br><br><a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ilnd.475165/gov.uscourts.ilnd.475165.22.0.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco...</a></p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>Interesting new <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> appeal: Hallmark Licensing, LLC v. Hongkong Yueqi Tech Ltd., Docket No. 25-02255 (7th Cir.). The defendant seeks expedited review of Judge Jenkins' preliminary injunction in a copyright case involving "a product called 'My Friend Jesus.'”</p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>Honored to have my work cited by Judge Kness in a decision that concludes:
"[T]he Schedule A mechanism should no longer be perpetuated in its present form."
Eicher Motors Ltd, v. Schedule A, Defendants., No. 1:25-CV-02937, 2025 WL 2299593, at *1 (N.D. Ill. Aug. 8, 2025). <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a><br><br><a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ilnd.475165/gov.uscourts.ilnd.475165.22.0.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco...</a></p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>This decision does, however, come on the heels of another NDIL judge sanctioning a different <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> plaintiff for judge-shopping. That case had a "uniquely nefarious twist," though; it remains to be seen how much appetite this judge (and others) will have to sanction in other cases.<span class="quote-inline"><br><br>RE: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lvbyv5d7lk2p" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lvbyv5d7lk2p</a></span></p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>To answer some questions I've been getting: No, this doesn't mean <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> is dead. I suspect that we'll keep seeing plenty of these filed the NDIL, just with more judge-shopping.<span class="quote-inline"><br><br>RE: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lfaf73qmfc2b" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hvwhptk4oerwsuzau66ikwfy/post/3lfaf73qmfc2b</a></span></p>
Sarah Fackrell<p>Time to set up a docket alert for Judge Kness' <a class="hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://bsky.app/search?q=%23ScheduleA" target="_blank">#ScheduleA</a> assignments. I'm guessing we're going to see a *lot* of amending down to one.<span class="quote-inline"><br><br>RE: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t6rqrjrhcvlv6fosnsfxr7io/post/3lw4ynb4muc2a" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:t6rqrjrhcvlv6fosnsfxr7io/post/3lw4ynb4muc2a</a></span></p>
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