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Retail & E-Commerce
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September 21, 2023
Split 6th Circ. Revives Preppy Kids Clothing Rivals' IP Feud
A split Sixth Circuit panel revived a trademark infringement suit by preppy children's clothing maker Bella Bliss against a rival company started by one of its co-founders, ruling Thursday that Bella Bliss plausibly alleged a likelihood of confusion that allows its federal and Kentucky state claims to proceed.
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September 21, 2023
Judge Tosses Suit Claiming Lead In Vitamin Shoppe Products
An Illinois federal judge threw out a lawsuit accusing the Vitamin Shoppe of selling supplements tainted with lead and arsenic, calling the opinions made by one of the plaintiff's expert witnesses "unreliable speculation and circular reasoning."
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September 21, 2023
Switching From Google 'Too Many Steps,' Rival CEO Says
DuckDuckGo's CEO testified about the outsize power of Google's default status on web browsers and smartphones Thursday, backing U.S. Department of Justice assertions in D.C. federal court that switching between search engines is a far more complicated process than Google claims.
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September 21, 2023
Columbia Gets $2.4M Default Award In RICO IP Case
A California federal judge has awarded Columbia Sportswear nearly $2.4 million in damages and entered default judgment against textile manufacturer Ventex Co. Ltd., finding that Columbia sufficiently pled Ventex violated federal and Oregon racketeering laws by conspiring with a rival to wrongly launch administrative challenges to Columbia's patents.
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September 21, 2023
3M Will Pay $9.6M To Settle Iran Sanctions Case
3M agreed to pay $9.6 million to resolve its potential liability for violating sanctions placed on Iran, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced Thursday, saying 3M's Swiss subsidiary sold reflective license plate sheeting through a German reseller to an entity controlled by Iran's national police.
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September 21, 2023
Judge Offers Mixed Opinion On Dried Fruit And Flower Duties
The U.S. Court of International Trade advanced a Canadian home decor importer's legal challenge to duty assessments for dozens of decorative plants, offering up the proper tariff classifications for a large swath of the long-disputed imports on Thursday.
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September 21, 2023
Trade Commission Blocks Certain Chinese Golf Club Imports
The U.S. International Trade Commission announced a partial exclusion order for products from certain Chinese golf club manufacturers Thursday after an investigation into an Arizona company's allegations that imports infringed its patent.
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September 21, 2023
Retail Chain Pays $12M In Latest Kona Coffee Settlement
A Washington federal judge Thursday approved convenience store chain MNS Ltd.'s $12 million settlement with Hawaiian coffee farmers over claims that the chain sold products that were falsely advertised as authentic Kona coffee.
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September 21, 2023
Travelers Settles With Unauthorized Swag Seller
It wasn't the first time Travelers asked an unauthorized swag vendor using its famous logo not to stand under its red umbrella, but the legal storm passed, the insurer told a Connecticut federal court, announcing it had settled its trademark suit against the company.
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September 21, 2023
House Dems Make 3rd Attempt At Federal Pot Legalization
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have reintroduced a federal marijuana legalization bill that previously passed the chamber twice when it was under Democratic control, but never gained any traction in the U.S. Senate.
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September 21, 2023
Early Audible Win Closes The Book On Authors' Royalty Row
A New York federal judge gave Audible an early win Wednesday in a proposed class action by two book publishers accusing the company of withholding royalties on books that had been exchanged, ruling that the authors "fail to identify any means, let alone evidence" that the company "encouraged" the returns.
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September 21, 2023
Stanley Black & Decker Overplayed COVID Boost, Suit Alleges
Leaders of Stanley Black & Decker Inc. were hit in Connecticut federal court Wednesday with a shareholder derivative action alleging they overtouted demand growth the company experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic after subsequent price hikes, climbing interest rates, inflation and declines in remote work caused a downturn.
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September 21, 2023
Sherwin-Williams Says NJ Must Testify About 'Dump Site'
Sherwin-Williams has urged a New Jersey state judge to compel testimony from the reticent New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection about the effects of the paint company's alleged pollution at the site of one of its former manufacturing plants, arguing it's entitled to the requested testimony during discovery, and it's not protected by privilege.
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September 21, 2023
Chancery Shoots Down Gun Co. Co-Owner's Deal Challenge
A former half-owner of Remington Outdoor Co. assets who failed to investigate a financing deal exclusively negotiated by the other half-owner cannot undo the sale of 2.5% of the business despite alleged "underhandedness," a Delaware vice chancellor ruled.
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September 21, 2023
Mass. Judge Tosses Desktop Metal Securities Suit For Good
A Massachusetts federal judge has permanently tossed a proposed securities suit claiming 3D printing company Desktop Metal Inc. and its executives misled investors about a flagship product that was ultimately recalled, finding that the suit failed to plead any actionable misleading statements or that the executives knowingly deceived the investors.
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September 21, 2023
Apt. Owner Fights Arbitration Of $7M Ida Case At 5th Circ.
A New Orleans luxury retail and apartment complex urged the Fifth Circuit to deny its foreign and domestic insurers' request to arbitrate a $7 million dispute over Hurricane Ida damage, arguing the insurers incorrectly construed the policies as one to force arbitration under international rules.
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September 21, 2023
Panel Lifts Restrictions On Ga. Gas Station In Nuisance Case
Restrictions on the operation of a gas station and convenience store considered by the city of Atlanta to be a public nuisance were imposed without authority by a municipal judge, the Georgia Court of Appeals has ruled.
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September 21, 2023
WWE Sued For Early Termination Of Trading Card Contract
Trading card company Panini has swept WWE into its fray with rival online retailer Fanatics, suing the wrestling organization in New York federal court over allegations it breached its contract by ending a partnership with Panini years before expiration without warning or valid justification.
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September 21, 2023
Amazon Beats Conn. Workers' Security Screening Wage Suit
A Connecticut federal judge handed Amazon a summary judgment win Wednesday in a proposed class action alleging the e-commerce giant failed to pay fulfillment-center workers for time they spent undergoing anti-theft security screenings, finding that a 2014 U.S. Supreme Court case bars the workers from any recovery.
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September 21, 2023
Ohio Justices Reject Bar Owner's Sunday Booze Ballot Fight
The Ohio Supreme Court rejected a Cleveland-area bar owner's suit over his unsuccessful attempt to place a local liquor regulation issue on Medina County's November election ballot, with the majority stating that the owner invoked the wrong law in his complaint and one justice saying in a dissent that he lacked standing anyway.
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September 21, 2023
DEA Escapes Suit Over $3M In Seized, Destroyed Hemp
A California federal judge has dismissed the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and its officers from the bulk of a suit alleging they and San Diego County wrongly seized and destroyed more than $3 million in legally grown hemp, while allowing claims against the county to go ahead.
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September 20, 2023
Gerber Escapes Toddler Formula False Ad Suit, For Now
An Illinois federal judge on Wednesday tossed without prejudice a proposed class action alleging that Gerber Products Co. is misleading customers by advertising its toddler formula as nutritionally appropriate, saying the court doesn't have jurisdiction as the plaintiff failed to satisfy the $5 million amount in controversy requirement.
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September 20, 2023
Jury Says Lowe's Owes $1.8M In LED Patent Damages Retrial
Lowe's should have to pay nearly $1.8 million in royalties to Epistar for infringing its lighting technology patents, a California federal jury determined in a damages retrial, which puts the home improvement retail chain on the hook for slightly less than a previous jury found.
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September 20, 2023
Judge Told New Google Search Systems Don't Need User Data
A former Google engineer on Wednesday told the judge overseeing the government's search monopolization trial that the company uses data about user interactions to help rank search results, despite its public position, but said it also has systems that don't rely on user data.
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September 20, 2023
Ga. Park Escapes Suit Over Woman's Waterslide Injury
The Georgia Court of Appeals on Wednesday threw out a woman's suit claiming negligence by a state-owned water park caused her to injure her leg while riding down a waterslide with her boyfriend, saying there's no evidence that the slide or the pool was dangerous.
Expert Analysis
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New FCC Broadband Label Rules Should Be Read Carefully
A recent order from the Federal Communications Commission clarifies standardized broadband label requirements that are pending final approval — and while compliance should be manageable, the rules impose new risk, particularly with regard to speed and latency disclosures, say Craig Gilley and Laura Stefani at Venable.
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Starbucks 'Memphis 7' Ruling Shows Retaliation Is A Bad Idea
Starbucks’ unsuccessful attempts to quash unionization by retaliating against organizing employees — illustrated by the Sixth Circuit's recent backing of an order that forced the company to rehire seven pro-union workers in Memphis, Tennessee — demonstrates why employers should eschew hard-line tactics and instead foster genuine dialogue with their workforce, says Janette Levey at Levey Law.
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Navigating PFAS Compliance With FDA, Emerging State Laws
As PFAS food packaging regulation intensifies at the state level, businesses should consider how federal action and possible preemption from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may affect their compliance plans, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.
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How To Protect Atty-Client Privilege While Using Generative AI
When using generative artificial intelligence tools, attorneys should consider several safeguards to avoid breaches or complications in attorney-client privilege, say Antonious Sadek and Christopher Campbell at DLA Piper.
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NY Cannabis Licensing Row Compounds State Industry Woes
A New York trial court’s recent injunction, preventing state regulators from issuing any new cannabis retail licenses, is the latest setback in a program rollout riddled with legal challenges and other delays, and will likely have negative impacts on operators, applicants, consumers and the state economy, say Meaghan Feenan and William Wolfe at Harris Beach.
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How New Lawyers Can Leverage Feedback For Growth
Embracing constructive criticism as a tool for success can help new lawyers accelerate their professional growth and law firms build a culture of continuous improvement, says Katie Aldrich at Fringe Professional Development.
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Series
In A 'Barbie' World: Boosting IP Value With Publicity Machines
Mattel's history of intellectual property monitoring, including its recent challenge against Burberry over the "BRBY" trademark ahead of the "Barbie" film, shows how IP enforcement strategies can be used as publicity to increase brand value and inform potential collaborations, says Carly Duckett at Shepherd and Wedderburn.
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Key Elements Of The Proposed Credit Card Competition Act
Attorneys at Troutman Pepper examine the most noteworthy provisions in the recently proposed Credit Card Competition Act, including changes to payment card network access, Federal Reserve Board review, who would qualify as a covered institution, and routing restrictions.
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Circuit Rulings Confirm Ch. 11 Trustee Fee Refund Trend
Recent Ninth and Eleventh Circuit rulings that Chapter 11 debtors are entitled to refunds for unconstitutional bankruptcy trustee fees paid under the Bankruptcy Judgeship Act support a developing trend in debtors' favor, making it likely that courts considering the same question will follow suit, says Adam Herring at Nelson Mullins.
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Series
ESG Around The World: Australia
Clive Cachia and Cathy Ma at K&L Gates detail ESG-reporting policies in Australia and explain how the country is starting to introduce mandatory requirements as ESG performance is increasingly seen as a key investment and corporate differentiator in the fight for global capital.
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Key Takeaways For Email Marketing From Experian Settlement
The Federal Trade Commission's recent enforcement action against Experian is a good reminder for companies to assess email marketing practices for compliance with the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography And Marketing Act, including misleading header information, deceptive subject lines and opt-out requirements, says Terese Arenth at Moritt Hock.
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The NIL Legislation Race: CAEFA And Ted Cruz's Draft Bill
Christina Stylianou and Gregg Clifton at Lewis Brisbois compare legislation pertaining to the name, image and likeness rights of college student-athletes, including the College Athlete Economic Freedom Act and Sen. Ted Cruz's draft bill that would restrict an athlete's eligibility to compete if an NIL agreement violates their university's student code of conduct.
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Opinion
Address The Data Monopoly, Otherwise Tech Giants Control AI
It is likely that we will experience a severe monopoly on artificial intelligence systems and patents by the largest players in the tech industry, so the way we treat data needs to change, whether through the legislature, the courts or tech companies, says Pranav Katti at Barclay Damon.
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In Ga., Promptness Is Key To Setting Aside Default Judgments
The Georgia Court of Appeals' recent vacating of a lower court's decision to set aside a default judgment against Samsung Electronics America is a reminder of the processes and arguments provided by Georgia's statutes for challenging default judgments — including the importance of responding quickly, says Katy Robertson at Swift Currie.
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Brand Owners Beware: AI-Generated Ad Content Poses Risks
Since the Association of National Advertisers recently updated its master media buying services template agreement, brand owners should consider how their contracted agencies are using artificial intelligence to create and implement campaigns and media purchases, say Kyle-Beth Hilfer and John Miranda at Cowan Liebowitz.