Mama Fu’s Noodle House started as a single Pan-Asian restaurant in downtown Atlanta. Founded by entrepreneur Martin Sprock, who expanded the outlet through his franchising company Raving Brands, the restaurant quickly grew from a single eatery to a fast-casual food chain with locations in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas. However, the rapid growth of the chain led to discontent among the franchisees, who believed that the company had grown too quickly without providing the support, marketing and training promised under franchise agreements. In December 2006, when it was estimated that Mama Fu’s had reached or exceeded approximately 40 restaurants within 24 months, a group of 29 franchisees and investors sued Martin Sprock, Raving Brands and Mama Fu’s, alleging a variety of claims including violations of state contract and franchise law.

Executives at NBC Universal decided to market reality TV show The Apprentice by launching a national watch-and-win sweepstakes. Viewers were given the opportunity to win a prize of $10,000 by voting for certain Apprentice contestants to be exiled from the group and forced to live in a tent. Those who voted online could participate for free. However, those who voted by text message were charged an entry fee of 99 cents. In 2007, a Georgia woman sued Donald Trump and NBC Universal for operating an illegal lottery in violation of state racketeering statutes. Similar class action lawsuits have also been filed against popular shows such as America’s Got Talent, Deal or No Deal and 1 vs. 100.

Herbal tea manufacturer Traditional Medicinals wanted to market a trademarked laxative tea product called Smooth Move at the website SmoothMove.com. In 2008, the California-based company tried to register the domain but discovered that the domain had already been claimed by WorldWide Media, an entity which had “parked” the domain with a website showing ads to visitors. Rather than rebrand its product or register a different domain, Traditional Medicinals initiated an arbitration proceeding against WorldWide Media asserting that the domain had been registered in bad faith.