Retail & E-Commerce

  • March 25, 2025

    Va. Gov. Youngkin Blocks Recreational Cannabis Sales Again

    Glenn Youngkin, the Republican governor of Virginia, on Monday once again vetoed lawmaker-approved legislation that would have taxed and regulated the sale of adult-use cannabis.

  • March 25, 2025

    Baker Botts Atty Says Patent Exec Can't Prove Defamation

    A Baker Botts LLP lawyer is contending that a Florida federal court cannot side with a patent-licensing company executive on his defamation claim against the attorney over her comments in a news article about a patent suit against Starbucks, saying she didn't say anything false.

  • March 25, 2025

    No Easy Out In $5M Mich. Dispensary Flip-Flop Suit

    A Michigan federal court has refused to hand a win to either party in developer American 5 LLC's suit alleging a Michigan township improperly revoked its permit for a marijuana dispensary, finding that the parties hadn't resolved whether the permit was the developer's to begin with.

  • March 25, 2025

    DEA Seeks Exit From Hemp Group's Suit Over Raid

    Federal drug enforcers have asked a Texas federal judge to release them from a hemp industry trade group and retailer's lawsuit challenging the legality of a raid on a smoke shop, saying that the enforcement actions at issue were conducted by local authorities.

  • March 25, 2025

    Ariz. AG Warns Cops, Retailers About Illegal THC Sales

    Arizona's attorney general has sent letters to both retailers and law enforcement over the sale of THC products by unlicensed shops, clarifying that such sales are illegal and giving them a month to prepare for enforcement by the attorney general's office.

  • March 24, 2025

    Beyond Meat Sued On Allegations Broker Accessed User Data

    Plant-based meat substitute producer Beyond Meat Inc. has covertly teamed up with data broker Experian to track website visitors and sell their personal data "to the highest bidders" without their permission, according to a proposed class action filed in California federal court. 

  • March 24, 2025

    T-Mobile, Customers Push Dish For Docs In Sprint Merger Suit

    T-Mobile and the customers suing over its 2020 merger with Sprint are both asking an Illinois federal judge to force Dish to turn over discovery documents, with the plaintiffs claiming the documents are key to showing why Dish never became an effective competitor in the wireless market.

  • March 24, 2025

    Fed. Circ. Affirms Invalidity Finding In Tape Patent Fight

    The Federal Circuit on Monday backed a lower court's finding that a patent covering a type of marking tape was invalid as anticipated, while also mostly upholding a sanctions award that tape manufacturer ShieldMark secured in the case accusing it of infringement.

  • March 24, 2025

    Chancery Won't Restart Disputed Bitcoin ATMs For Now

    Delaware's Court of Chancery refused on Monday to order reactivation of dozens of bitcoin cryptocurrency ATM kiosks shut down by an Iowa grocery chain after that state's attorney general sued Bitcoin Depot and a similar operation for alleged scamming of users.

  • March 24, 2025

    Skechers Says Insurer Shirked Defense Of Nonslip Shoe Suit

    Skechers' insurer wrongfully refused to defend the shoe giant in a putative class action over slip-resistance problems with some of its shoes, Skechers told a California state court in seeking at least $750,000.

  • March 24, 2025

    Apple, Sony, Others Facing ITC Probes Over Imports

    The U.S. International Trade Commission has said it is launching a series of investigations into whether imports of products such as video game consoles, nose cleaning devices and semiconductors have infringed various U.S. patents.

  • March 24, 2025

    No $1M Placeholder In 'Black Widow' TM Feud, Judge Rules

    A Connecticut federal judge will not require a pest control company to post more than $1 million to cover potential damages in a trademark lawsuit over the name "Black Widow," which is also the subject of a paused cancellation proceeding before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

  • March 24, 2025

    Neb. AG Sends 35 Cos. Cease Letters Over THC Sales

    The Nebraska attorney general has sent cease and desist letters to 104 retail locations in Omaha saying they are selling products with THC beyond the state's legal limits.

  • March 24, 2025

    'Powering' Algorithm Not Enough To Merit Price-Fixing Claim

    A California federal judge gave short shrift Friday to consumers' proposed class action price-fixing allegations against software provider SAS Institute Inc., which allegedly created a shared pricing algorithm that Hilton, Hyatt and other major chains used to fix and raise room rates nationwide.

  • March 24, 2025

    NYC Shops' Suit Over Pot Crackdown Tossed

    A New York federal judge has thrown out a suit by 27 businesses alleging that New York City violated due process by shutting some of them down as illegal cannabis operations, saying not only did the shops have the opportunity to be heard in an impartial hearing, but several of them were allowed to reopen following those hearings.

  • March 24, 2025

    Dog Toy Maker Appeals Injunction In Jack Daniel's TM Dispute

    The maker of a poop-themed dog toy that mimics Jack Daniel's bottles is appealing a permanent injunction that an Arizona federal court entered after finding the company tarnished the whiskey-maker's brand by associating it with feces.

  • March 24, 2025

    High Court Turns Down Case Over Amazon Patent Program

    The U.S. Supreme Court decided Monday not to hear an appeal of a Federal Circuit decision that found a company alleging patent infringement through Amazon's patent evaluation program must face a declaratory judgment suit in the accused infringer's home state.

  • March 21, 2025

    Chancery Nixes Mid-Case Appeal In Sears Appraisal Suit Fix

    A Delaware vice chancellor refused on Friday to certify a mid-case appeal sought by bankrupt Sears Hometown Stores and its billionaire controller after a Court of Chancery ruling that an investor should get a full $4.06 per share post-squeeze-out merger award despite pursuing an alternative stock appraisal that was dead-ended by bankruptcy.

  • March 21, 2025

    NJ, Pa. Claims Over Amazon Price Hike Project Cut For Good

    Pennsylvania and New Jersey's attorneys general's efforts to shore up state law claims in the Federal Trade Commission monopolization lawsuit against Amazon.com failed after a Washington federal judge found nothing "unconscionable" about a project that matches rivals' price increases or deceptive about its concealment.

  • March 21, 2025

    Lululemon Secures PTAB Decision Axing Nike Shoe Patent

    Lululemon persuaded a panel of administrative judges on Friday to wipe out all of the claims in a Nike footwear manufacturing patent, which Nike had already dropped from its New York suit against the athletic apparel retailer by the time that case went to trial earlier this month.

  • March 21, 2025

    Amazon Beats Consumer's Suit Over Late Delivery Again

    A Washington federal judge on Friday permanently threw out a proposed class action accusing Amazon of breaking scheduled delivery promises, finding that the e-commerce giant did not engage in deception by requiring customers to request shipping fee refunds for packages that arrive after a guaranteed time.

  • March 21, 2025

    Latham-Led Online Ticket Giant StubHub Files IPO

    Private equity- and venture-backed online ticket reseller StubHub Holdings Inc. on Friday filed its long-awaited initial public offering plans, represented by Latham & Waktins LLP and underwriters counsel Cooley LLP.

  • March 21, 2025

    Buyers' Gripe Is With Timber Sector, Not Charmin, P&G Says

    A false advertising lawsuit accusing Procter & Gamble of overhyping the forest-friendly bona fides of Charmin toilet paper should be dismissed, the company told a Washington federal judge, arguing that the buyers' suit is misdirected at P&G when their actual disappointment is with the "forestry industry."

  • March 21, 2025

    Meta Defends Need For Current Data In FTC Case

    Meta Platforms Inc. told a D.C. federal court the company should be able to use the most recent data it has during next month's trial in the Federal Trade Commission's case accusing the Facebook parent company of monopolizing personal social networking.

  • March 21, 2025

    Gibson Gets Infringement Finding Plus $1 In Guitar TM Retrial

    A Texas federal jury on Friday found that a Florida-based guitar maker infringed Gibson Brands Inc.'s trademarks on shapes of some of its famous guitars like the Flying V and Explorer but handed Gibson $1 after finding that it delayed bringing its claims.

Expert Analysis

  • A Legal Perspective On NYC's Retail Real Estate Evolution

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    As New York City's retail market begins to show signs of resilience after the challenges of recent years, landlords must be cognizant of legal implications from shifting trends toward shorter-term leases and pop-up stores, says Andrea Gendel at Pryor Cashman.

  • The Fashion Industry Should Prep Now For State PFAS Bans

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    New York and California have each passed legislation regulating PFAS in apparel and other textiles, so retailers should consult with manufacturers and suppliers and obtain the requisite certification documents as soon as possible to avoid disruptions in supply chains, say attorneys at Venable.

  • How Boards And Officers Should Prep For New Trump Admin

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    In anticipation of President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs and mass deportation campaign, company officers and board members should pursue proactive, comprehensive contingency planning to not only advance the best interests of the companies they serve, but to also properly exercise their fiduciary duty of care, say attorneys at Winston & Strawn.

  • Implementing Human Rights Due Diligence

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    The Bureau of Industry and Security’s recent removal of a Canadian surveillance provider from its export blacklist, after just eight months, illustrates the importance of integrating human rights due diligence into the vetting process by asking a few targeted questions, say attorneys at Cravath.

  • California Supreme Court's Year In Review

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    Attorneys at Horvitz & Levy highlight notable decisions on major questions from the California Supreme Court's last term, including voter initiatives, hostile work environment and the economic loss rule.

  • Series

    Flying Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Achieving my childhood dream of flying airplanes made me a better lawyer — and a better person — because it taught me I can conquer difficult goals when I leave my comfort zone, focus on the demands of the moment and commit to honing my skills, says Ivy Cadle at Baker Donelson.

  • 9th Circ.'s High Bar May Limit Keyword Confusion TM Claims

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    A recent Ninth Circuit ruling that a law firm did not infringe upon a competitor’s trademarks by paying Google to promote its website when users searched for the rival’s name signals that plaintiffs likely can no longer win infringement suits by claiming competitive keyword advertising confuses internet-savvy consumers, say attorneys at Mitchell Silberberg.

  • Key Points From New Maritime Oil Price Cap Advisory

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    The Price Cap Coalition's updated advisory regarding the maritime oil industry's compliance with the Russian oil price cap highlights the role of governmental authorities, additional areas warranting due diligence and the need for training programs, say attorneys at Miller & Chevalier.

  • NLRB One-Two Punch Curbs Employer Anti-Organizing Tools

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    The National Labor Relations Board’s recent decisions in Siren Retail and Amazon, limiting employer speech about the impact of unionization and outlawing captive audience meetings, severely curtail employers' arsenal of tools to combat an organizing campaign — though this may soon change under a new administration, say attorneys at Benesch.

  • Best Practices For Influencer Trademark Protection

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    Though the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board recently decided that an influencer couldn't qualify for a retail services trademark registration for posting affiliate links to a third-party website, there are other trademark protections that influencers can pursue for their branding and marketing services, say attorneys at Nixon Peabody.

  • Takeaways From Final Regulations For China Investment Ban

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    ​The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s final rule banning U.S. investment in emerging Chinese technology clarifies some key requirements, includes additional exceptions for covered transactions and attempts to address concerns that the rule will put U.S. businesses at a competitive disadvantage, say attorneys at Simpson Thacher.

  • Series

    Circus Arts Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    Performing circus arts has strengthened my ability to be more thoughtful, confident and grounded, all of which has enhanced my legal practice and allowed me to serve clients in a more meaningful way, says Bailey McGowan at Stinson.

  • Recent Listeria Outbreaks Hold Key Compliance Lessons

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    Listeria outbreaks in ready-to-eat foods from Boar's Head and other companies, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Food and Drug Administration responses to these outbreaks, should be closely evaluated from an overall compliance and risk management perspective by food manufacturers, retailers and industry investors, say attorneys at Kirkland.

  • 3 Ways To Train Junior Lawyers In 30 Minutes Or Less

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    Today’s junior lawyers are experiencing a skills gap due to pandemic-era disruptions, but firms can help bring them up to speed by offering high-impact skill building content in bite-sized, interactive training sessions, say Stacey Schwartz at Katten, Diane Costigan at Winston & Strawn and Lauren Tierney at Freshfields.

  • What Cos. Can Learn from Water Microplastics Class Actions

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    Class actions against companies whose bottled spring water allegedly contains microplastics, challenging claims such as "natural" and "100% spring water," seem to be drying up — but these cases serve as a good reminder to other businesses to review regulatory standards, and carefully vet plaintiff allegations at the outset, say attorneys at Keller and Heckman.

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