Bad Spaniels, Good Law? The Ninth Circuit Signals Skepticism of Tarnishment in Jack Daniel's-Parody Dog Toy

Background and Post-SCOTUS District Court Ruling - As previously discussed, following remand from the Supreme Court, the district court found that while VIP Products LLC's (VIP) "Bad Spaniels" dog toy closely mimicked the Jack Daniel's trade dress, its humorous alterations (e.g., "Old No. 2" in place of "Old No. 7") were sufficient to dispel the likelihood of consumer confusion. However, those same scatological juxtapositions that helped VIP avoid liability for trademark infringement ultimately...
By: Baker Donelson


http://dlvr.it/TTM09c

Ozempic changed obesity treatment, but experts say the real revolution is next

The obesity treatment landscape is changing fast, with GLP-1 drugs opening the door to more effective care than ever before. Experts now envision a future where medications, minimally invasive procedures, surgery, and precision medicine work together to deliver better long-term results.


http://dlvr.it/TTLd15

The real cause of a common stroke may have been missed for decades

Scientists have discovered that a common type of stroke may have a very different cause than doctors once thought. Instead of fatty plaque clogging arteries, the strongest link was found with enlarged and damaged blood vessels deep within the brain. The finding helps explain why standard treatments like aspirin are often less effective and is driving the search for new therapies that target the brain’s tiny blood vessels directly.


http://dlvr.it/TTL55P

Why Caregivers Shouldn’t Feel Guilty About Calling Hospice

A billboard in my city carries a simple message: “Most families say, ‘Why did we wait so long to call hospice?’ “...


The post Why Caregivers Shouldn’t Feel Guilty About Calling Hospice appeared first on Minding Our Elders.
             

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http://dlvr.it/TTL27J

The real cause of a common stroke may have been missed for decades

Scientists have discovered that a common type of stroke may have a very different cause than doctors once thought. Instead of fatty plaque clogging arteries, the strongest link was found with enlarged and damaged blood vessels deep within the brain. The finding helps explain why standard treatments like aspirin are often less effective and is driving the search for new therapies that target the brain’s tiny blood vessels directly.


http://dlvr.it/TTL20g

Stanford scientists regrow lost cartilage and reverse arthritis in major breakthrough

A new treatment that blocks an aging-related protein restored lost cartilage in old mice and helped prevent arthritis after knee injuries. Human cartilage samples showed similar signs of regeneration, raising hopes for a future drug that could repair joints instead of replacing them.


http://dlvr.it/TTKlSC

What’s Trending in Trademarks: June 2026

This month: a dupe-culture design patent battle ends with a split verdict that leaves the UGG brand exposed, Taylor Swift’s “Showgirl” trademark fight takes a First Amendment turn, the Second Circuit reminds practitioners that a TTAB win is not a free pass in federal court, and the USPTO quietly rolls out a set of AI tools that will change how clearance searches work....
By: Erise IP


http://dlvr.it/TTKLv9

Geriatric Care Managers Can Help Busy Caregivers

Geriatric care management is a rapidly growing field in the elder care industry. As most caregivers know, researching and coordinating all the...


The post Geriatric Care Managers Can Help Busy Caregivers appeared first on Minding Our Elders.
             

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* When It’s Time for That Senior Care Conversation: Tips
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* Specialized Moving Services Ease Transitions to Senior Living Communities


 


http://dlvr.it/TTK4D3

Breakthrough drug reverses aging in skin and dramatically speeds healing

Scientists have discovered that a topical anti-aging drug called ABT-263 can dramatically improve wound healing in older skin. The treatment works by removing damaged “senescent” cells that accumulate with age and slow the body’s repair process. In aged mice, wounds healed much faster after treatment, while the drug also activated genes tied to collagen production and tissue regeneration.


http://dlvr.it/TTJnl0

Choosing Senior Housing and Care Based on Your Parents’ Needs

As our population ages and more of our national focus is on senior care, we can find ourselves in a muddle over...


The post Choosing Senior Housing and Care Based on Your Parents’ Needs appeared first on Minding Our Elders.
             

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http://dlvr.it/TTJ6np

10 surprising ways diabetes and dementia are connected

Diabetes and dementia appear to be closely intertwined, with each condition potentially influencing the other. Problems with insulin and glucose can affect the brain’s energy supply, increase inflammation, and damage blood vessels linked to memory loss. Researchers are also finding that some popular diabetes medications may lower dementia risk. These discoveries are opening new possibilities for protecting brain health as people age.


http://dlvr.it/TTHlwk

Specialized Moving Services Ease Transitions to Senior Living Communities

When an elderly parent transitions from their home to assisted living, independent living, a nursing home or a relative’s home, it can...


The post Specialized Moving Services Ease Transitions to Senior Living Communities appeared first on Minding Our Elders.
             

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http://dlvr.it/TTHBHm

Scientists may have finally found how Alzheimer's spreads through the brain

A common brain protein may be giving Alzheimer’s disease an unexpected way to spread, carrying toxic Tau proteins from damaged neurons into healthy ones. By blocking these harmful protein packages before they reach new cells, researchers believe it may one day be possible to slow the disease's relentless progression.


http://dlvr.it/TTHB8q

Scientists may have finally found how Alzheimer's spreads through the brain

A common brain protein may be giving Alzheimer’s disease an unexpected way to spread, carrying toxic Tau proteins from damaged neurons into healthy ones. By blocking these harmful protein packages before they reach new cells, researchers believe it may one day be possible to slow the disease's relentless progression.


http://dlvr.it/TTH7Lw

New procedure delivers lasting knee arthritis pain relief without surgery

A minimally invasive treatment that blocks inflammation-driving blood vessels in the knee provided significant pain relief and improved function for osteoarthritis patients, with benefits lasting at least a year. The procedure was safe, highly successful, and could offer a new alternative for people seeking relief before considering knee replacement.


http://dlvr.it/TTGstX

Millions take omega-3 fish oil for brain health but a new study found no benefit

Fish oil supplements successfully delivered omega-3s to the brain, but a two-year study found no meaningful benefits for memory, cognition, or Alzheimer’s-related brain changes. The results challenge the idea that fish oil pills can help prevent Alzheimer’s and shift attention toward overall diet and lifestyle instead.


http://dlvr.it/TTGHg6

Scientists finally crack an “undruggable” pancreatic cancer target and nearly double survival

For decades, pancreatic cancer has been one of the most lethal cancers, with few effective treatment options. A new drug, daraxonrasib, targets the KRAS mutation that fuels most pancreatic tumors—something many scientists once thought couldn't be done. In a major clinical trial, the treatment nearly doubled survival for patients with advanced disease and reduced the risk of death by 60%.


http://dlvr.it/TTFzd3

Once Close Friends Often Drift Away after Dementia Diagnosis

Dear Carol: My 67-year-old mother struggles to care for her 75-year-old husband with Alzheimer’s.  In many ways, things are going pretty well,...


The post Once Close Friends Often Drift Away after Dementia Diagnosis appeared first on Minding Our Elders.
             

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http://dlvr.it/TTFhyg

Nicholas Rossi Finally Extradited From Earth

It took a lot longer to get him out of Scotland.


http://dlvr.it/TTFTfG

Beet juice lowers blood pressure in older adults in just 2 weeks

Drinking nitrate-rich beetroot juice may do more than support heart health — it could actually reshape the bacteria living in the mouth in ways that help lower blood pressure in older adults. In the largest study of its kind, researchers found that older people who drank concentrated beetroot juice twice daily for two weeks experienced noticeable blood pressure reductions, while younger adults did not.


http://dlvr.it/TTFRtF

The Missing IP Ledger: Where CPG Companies Leave Patent Value on the Table

KEY TAKEAWAYS - • CPG companies often create patentable and protectable IP in packaging, formulation, manufacturing, sustainability, and brand-design work, not just in formal R&D. • Lost value usually comes from timing and process failures: public launch before filing review, weak supplier controls, missed design patents, poor marking, and overreliance on trade dress. • A practical IP capture process should connect protection decisions to margin, retailer strategy, copycat risk,...
By: Whiteford


http://dlvr.it/TTFGvn

When a Person with Dementia Says, ‘I Just Want to Go Home’

“I want to go home.” Nearly every dementia caregiver has heard this heartbreaking plea from their loved one. They may already be...


The post When a Person with Dementia Says, ‘I Just Want to Go Home’ appeared first on Minding Our Elders.
             

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http://dlvr.it/TTF7qC

A Note on the E-Mail Newsletter

For those who subscribe and have been getting odd messages (that didn't come from me).


http://dlvr.it/TTDtVm

Scientists reveal the surprising truth about coffee and blood pressure

Coffee may give your blood pressure a temporary jolt, but that doesn’t mean it’s secretly wrecking your heart. Researchers say caffeine can briefly raise blood pressure by stimulating your heart and tightening blood vessels, especially in people who don’t drink coffee regularly. But large studies involving hundreds of thousands of people found no strong evidence that moderate coffee drinking increases the risk of developing hypertension. In fact, coffee also contains natural compounds that may help blood vessels function better.


http://dlvr.it/TTDrTl

A Caregiver’s Struggle: Balancing an Elder’s Sense of Purpose with Their Safety

As caregivers, we walk a thin line between keeping our loved ones safe and helping to preserve their independence. One of my...


The post A Caregiver’s Struggle: Balancing an Elder’s Sense of Purpose with Their Safety appeared first on Minding Our Elders.
             

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http://dlvr.it/TTDN4m

This common vitamin deficiency can mimic normal aging

Vitamin B12 is needed in microscopic amounts, but a shortage can have major effects on health and energy. The vitamin was first linked to a lifesaving liver treatment for pernicious anemia nearly 100 years ago. Today, researchers are finding that B12 may also help keep cellular powerhouses called mitochondria functioning properly. This could explain why some people experience fatigue and brain fog even before traditional signs of deficiency show up.


http://dlvr.it/TTD75H

World's largest opioid review finds they often don't work

The largest review ever conducted on opioids for acute pain found that these widely prescribed drugs often deliver only small, short-lived benefits. For many common conditions, including some surgeries and kidney stone pain, opioids performed no better than a placebo. Researchers also found higher rates of side effects and warned that dependence can begin after only a short period of use.


http://dlvr.it/TTCvN2

Should Your Parent Risk an Anesthesia Disaster or Forego Surgery?

Just last week, a reader asked me whether she should try to sway her mother, who had colon cancer, toward surgery. Her...


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http://dlvr.it/TTCSpg

Osteopenia is silently weakening bones in millions of people

Osteopenia is a common but often overlooked condition that causes bones to become less dense and more fragile. Because it develops silently, many people only discover they have it after a fracture or bone scan. Aging, menopause, poor diet, and inactivity can all contribute to bone loss. Fortunately, exercise, adequate calcium and vitamin D, and other healthy habits can slow or even partially reverse the decline.


http://dlvr.it/TTCCDS

Copper drug clears toxic Alzheimer’s proteins and restores memory

A copper-based compound restored the brain’s ability to clear toxic Alzheimer’s proteins, dramatically reducing amyloid buildup and improving memory in laboratory experiments. The findings point to a potentially fast-tracked new treatment strategy because the drug has already been tested in humans for other neurological conditions.


http://dlvr.it/TTBzJY

MIT scientists discover amino acid that helps the gut heal itself

MIT scientists have identified cysteine — an amino acid found in foods like meat, dairy, beans, and nuts — as a potent trigger for intestinal repair. In mice, a cysteine-rich diet activated immune cells that released healing signals, helping stem cells rebuild damaged intestinal tissue after radiation exposure. Researchers say the discovery could eventually lead to new dietary therapies for cancer patients suffering from treatment-related gut damage.


http://dlvr.it/TT9z7K

Butterfly that barely ages could help unlock longevity secrets

Scientists discovered that Heliconius butterflies have evolved an extraordinary lifespan, living several times longer than closely related species. Even more surprising, some show little sign of physical decline as they age. Their unusual pollen-feeding lifestyle may play a role, but the research suggests deeper evolutionary changes are also helping them stay healthy for longer.


http://dlvr.it/TT9dr0

Liability Knows No Borders: BioSkryb and The Extraterritorial Reach of California’s Section 16600.5.

The North Carolina Business Court recently issued a decision that serves as a sharp reminder that California’s hostility to restrictive covenants can reach well beyond its borders—and attempting to enforce a void restriction may itself create liability.


BioSkryb, a North Carolina–based biotechnology company, removed one of its co-founders and former executives, Jason West, in 2024. Shortly thereafter, and following his resignation from BioSkryb’s board of directors, Mr. West formed a new venture, AClarity Genomics, Inc.


Suspecting that Mr. West had misappropriated trade secrets and other confidential information to launch a competing business, BioSkryb filed suit. Among other claims, it alleged breach of Mr. West’s employment agreements and sought injunctive relief. Those agreements included one-year employee and customer non-solicitation covenants, as well as California choice-of-law provisions.


Mr. West countersued, invoking a relatively new and still underdeveloped provision of the California Business and Professions Code, Section 16600.5. (We previously wrote about Section 16600.5, here). The statute provides that an employer that attempts to enforce a contract containing an unlawful restraint on trade commits a civil violation and may be liable for damages and attorneys’ fees. BioSkryb did not dispute that, through its lawsuit, it had attempted to enforce the challenged restrictive covenants.


Following discovery, BioSkryb voluntarily dismissed its affirmative claims, leaving only Mr. West’s counterclaim under Section 16600.5. Mr. West then moved for summary judgment on liability (but not damages).


The dispositive issue became whether California law governed the employment agreements. Both parties conceded that, if California law applied, the restrictive covenants at issue were void. Mr. West sought to enforce the agreements’ express choice-of-law provision. BioSkryb, in contrast, argued that the provision should be disregarded because the agreements lacked a sufficient connection to California.


On June 8, 2026, the court sided with Mr. West in an order granting summary judgment. It identified several undisputed facts establishing a reasonable basis for the parties’ selection of California law:



* BioSkryb had at one point considered relocating its headquarters from North Carolina to California;

* Although the company ultimately remained in North Carolina, one of its co-founders relocated to California;

* BioSkryb held in-person board meetings in California, retained California-based corporate counsel, and required Mr. West to travel to California frequently—at least twenty-five times in connection with his duties.






The court further held that applying California law would not contravene a fundamental policy of North Carolina—a finding that, if otherwise established, could override a valid choice-of-law provision. To the contrary, the court noted that North Carolina, like California, disfavors restrictive employment covenants.


The court also addressed the extraterritorial reach of Section 16600.5(d). BioSkryb argued that applying the statute in a North Carolina forum would violate the presumption against extraterritorial application of state law. The court rejected that contention, concluding—consistent with a recent federal decision from Arizona—that the statutory language unambiguously reflects the California legislature’s intent for Section 16600.5 to apply beyond California’s borders.


Takeaway:


BioSkryb underscores the growing risk that California’s antipathy to non-competes, particularly Section 16600.5, poses to employers nationwide. Where a contract contains a California choice-of-law provision, even limited contacts with the state may be sufficient to trigger application of California law. And critically, the act of attempting to enforce restrictive covenants in other jurisdictions may now expose employers to affirmative liability.


BioSkryb Genomics, Inc. v. AClarity Genomics Inc.


http://dlvr.it/TT8whT

Tubulin prevents toxic brain protein clumps linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine may have uncovered a promising new way to combat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Instead of trying to stop Tau and alpha-synuclein proteins from gathering into tiny droplets inside brain cells, the researchers found that tubulin—the protein that builds the cell’s internal transport network—can redirect these proteins away from forming toxic clumps and toward healthy, productive work.


http://dlvr.it/TT8mkn

Long-lived families reveal a rare genetic clue to healthy aging

A study of long-lived families has identified rare genetic variants that may help people stay healthier for much longer as they age. One standout mutation appears to temper inflammation, potentially delaying disease and extending years of healthy living.


http://dlvr.it/TT8lp2

The Emotional Toll of Moving Your Elderly Parent to Senior Living

Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home. For most of us, the feeling is less about how large or...


The post The Emotional Toll of Moving Your Elderly Parent to Senior Living appeared first on Minding Our Elders.
             

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http://dlvr.it/TT8ldW

Humans may have hidden regenerative powers

Scientists have taken a surprising step toward unlocking regeneration in mammals, showing that the ability to rebuild complex body parts may not be lost after all—it may simply be switched off. Using a two-stage treatment, researchers redirected the body’s normal healing response away from scar formation and toward regrowth, successfully restoring bone, joints, ligaments, and tendons after amputation in animal studies.


http://dlvr.it/TT8FcF

Yale study finds nearly half of older adults improved with age

A long-term Yale study is challenging one of the biggest myths about aging. Nearly half of adults over 65 improved physically, mentally, or both over time, despite the common belief that aging means constant decline. Researchers found that people with more positive attitudes about getting older were significantly more likely to show these gains.


http://dlvr.it/TT84G1

Yale study finds nearly half of older adults improved with age

A long-term Yale study is challenging one of the biggest myths about aging. Nearly half of adults over 65 improved physically, mentally, or both over time, despite the common belief that aging means constant decline. Researchers found that people with more positive attitudes about getting older were significantly more likely to show these gains.


http://dlvr.it/TT817D

Solo Agers: Adults Without Close Kin Seek Outside Resources to Manage Future Care

Dear Carol: I’m a 73-year-old widower with no children or close relatives. I’m still healthy, but to be prudent, I need to...


The post Solo Agers: Adults Without Close Kin Seek Outside Resources to Manage Future Care appeared first on Minding Our Elders.
             

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http://dlvr.it/TT7vvm

Human organoids reveal how to reverse “irreversible” nerve damage

Cambridge researchers created miniature brain-and-spinal-cord systems in the lab that can send signals and even trigger tiny muscle contractions. They discovered that human neurons gradually lose their ability to regrow after damage during development — but that ability can potentially be switched back on. The team identified a gene network controlling this process and found that an existing hormone drug dramatically boosted nerve fiber regrowth.


http://dlvr.it/TT7fBV

Scientists reprogram brain immune cells to fight Alzheimer’s

A newly identified molecule called OLE helped restore the brain’s immune cells to a more protective state in Alzheimer’s models. The treatment reduced toxic plaque buildup and improved memory, raising hopes for a new therapeutic approach.


http://dlvr.it/TT7MtY

Father’s Day as a Caregiver: Remembering Dad Before Dementia

This Father’s Day, I’ll have fond memories of my dad, as will many caregivers and adult children. The juxtaposition of the past...


The post Father’s Day as a Caregiver: Remembering Dad Before Dementia appeared first on Minding Our Elders.
             

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Assorted Stupidity #174

In this edition: a FOIA request; another psychic fails to predict her own future; important disclosure requirements; etc.


http://dlvr.it/TT7DqJ

This popular fermented food may help flush microplastics from the body

Scientists in South Korea have discovered that a probiotic bacterium found in kimchi may help the body flush out tiny plastic particles before they can build up in organs. In lab tests, the kimchi-derived microbe clung tightly to nanoplastics even under conditions designed to mimic the human intestine, where other bacteria quickly lost their grip.


http://dlvr.it/TT70H1

Copper drug clears toxic Alzheimer’s proteins and restores memory

A copper-based compound restored the brain’s ability to clear toxic Alzheimer’s proteins, dramatically reducing amyloid buildup and improving memory in laboratory experiments. The findings point to a potentially fast-tracked new treatment strategy because the drug has already been tested in humans for other neurological conditions.


http://dlvr.it/TT6pJp

Scientists May Have Found What Really Triggers Alzheimer’s Disease

Scientists may have uncovered a hidden trigger behind Alzheimer’s disease. Instead of plaques being the root cause, amyloid beta appears to interfere with tau, a protein that helps keep neurons functioning properly. This disruption could set off the damage that eventually leads to the disease’s most recognizable brain changes.


http://dlvr.it/TT6TPP

Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs linked to 30% lower breast cancer risk

A large study found that women taking GLP-1 drugs, the medication class behind Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, were about 30% less likely to develop breast cancer. Researchers say the findings are promising but not yet proof, and clinical trials are now being planned to test whether these drugs could help prevent breast cancer.


http://dlvr.it/TT5yjk

10 surprising ways diabetes and dementia are connected

Diabetes and dementia appear to be closely intertwined, with each condition potentially influencing the other. Problems with insulin and glucose can affect the brain’s energy supply, increase inflammation, and damage blood vessels linked to memory loss. Researchers are also finding that some popular diabetes medications may lower dementia risk. These discoveries are opening new possibilities for protecting brain health as people age.


http://dlvr.it/TT5cM4

10 surprising ways diabetes and dementia are connected

Diabetes and dementia appear to be closely intertwined, with each condition potentially influencing the other. Problems with insulin and glucose can affect the brain’s energy supply, increase inflammation, and damage blood vessels linked to memory loss. Researchers are also finding that some popular diabetes medications may lower dementia risk. These discoveries are opening new possibilities for protecting brain health as people age.


http://dlvr.it/TT5KWW