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Retail & E-Commerce

  • July 11, 2025

    Catching Up On Stewart's Discretionary Denial Decisions

    Acting U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director Coke Morgan Stewart and a top administrative patent judge issued 15 discretionary denial decisions on Patent Trial and Appeal Board petitions over the past week, across nearly 40 cases. Here's what they decided.

  • July 11, 2025

    4th Circ. Backs 'GT Racing' Gaming Chair Social Media Block

    The Fourth Circuit on Friday upheld a lower court's decision blocking gaming chair company Wudi Industrial from using the trademark "GT Racing" in its social media accessible in European countries for certain goods.

  • July 11, 2025

    Cannabis Industry Group Praises Hemp Ban In Spending Bill

    A cannabis industry trade group has applauded a U.S. Senate committee's adoption of language in a federal appropriations bill that would ban consumable hemp-derived products with THC, while hemp industry stakeholders are seeking to use a one-year delay to amend a policy they say would kill the market.

  • July 11, 2025

    US Arm Of Dolce & Gabbana Freed From NFT Outfit Suit

    The U.S. division of Italian luxury fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana was dismissed on Friday from a proposed investor class action accusing it of abandoning a nonfungible tokens project while retaining more than $25 million of funds, with the court agreeing that it is not liable for the actions of the larger company.

  • July 11, 2025

    Google Won't Have To Turn Over EU Ad Tech Settlement Docs

    A Virginia federal judge refused a request from the U.S. Department of Justice Friday to force Google to hand over submissions it made to European enforcers when trying to settle their investigation as the sides ready for a remedies trial in the ad tech monopolization case.

  • July 11, 2025

    Compass Says It Will Share Exclusive Listings With Any Brokers

    Brokerage firm Compass Inc. announced Friday that it will conditionally share its exclusive homeowners listings with any brokers or multiple listing services.

  • July 11, 2025

    Mich. Gun Store Seeks Escape From School Shooting Suit

    A gun dealer has asked a Michigan state appellate court to dismiss a lawsuit over the sale of a gun used in a deadly school shooting, arguing it can't be held responsible for the buyer giving the gun to his son.

  • July 11, 2025

    The Biggest TM Rulings Of 2025: A Midyear Report

    Justices overturned a trademark award of more than $40 million in a long-running case in which lower courts put a company's affiliates on the hook for the amount, and a pair of precedential decisions from the Federal Circuit provided guidance on whether colors can be protected trade dress. Here is Law360's list of the biggest trademark decisions so far this year.

  • July 11, 2025

    Stanley Mug Maker Seeks To Dodge Class Suit Over Lid Recall

    The Seattle-based company behind the popular Stanley-brand tumbler is urging a Washington federal judge to throw out a proposed class action from consumers who alleged the company's travel mug is defective, criticizing the plaintiffs' counsel for "sprinting to the courthouse" even though the manufacturer offered replacement lids during a voluntary recall.

  • July 11, 2025

    Conservative Groups Bash Idea Of Next-Gen TV Mandate

    The growing battle over potential federal rules to move the U.S. toward next-generation TV continued this week as several right-leaning groups came out swinging against government mandates forcing the switchover.

  • July 11, 2025

    Walgreens Boots Shareholders Approve $24B Sycamore Deal

    Walgreens Boots Alliance said Friday its shareholders have approved a plan for the company to be purchased by private equity firm Sycamore Partners, in a transaction with a total value of up to $23.7 billion.

  • July 11, 2025

    Dem States Drop Bid To Block Machine Gun Trigger Returns

    Sixteen Democrat-led states and the District of Columbia told a Maryland federal judge Friday that they are dropping their motion to block the federal government from returning forced-reset triggers for guns to their owners, following declarations from the government and others that they would not distribute the products into states where possession is illegal.

  • July 11, 2025

    Smoke Shop's Default Lifted In Toys R Us Dilution Suit

    A Connecticut federal judge on Friday set aside a default entry against a New Haven e-cigarette and cannabis accessories store accused of tarnishing Toys R Us trademarks, mooting a pending motion for judgment after the defendants retained counsel who appeared in the case.

  • July 10, 2025

    9th Circ. Upholds Converse's Win In Website Chat Wiretap Suit

    The Ninth Circuit has refused to revive a proposed class action accusing Converse Inc. of allowing a third-party vendor to intercept website visitors' chats, finding that there was "no evidence" that the sneaker maker had violated the California Invasion of Privacy Act.

  • July 10, 2025

    Boehringer Wins Another Zantac Cancer Trial In Illinois

    Boehringer Ingelheim notched another Zantac cancer trial win in Illinois state court this week, after a jury rejected a prostate cancer patient's claim that his seven-year use of the brand-name heartburn drug played a role in his diagnosis.

  • July 10, 2025

    Apple Tees Up Bid To End App Store Antitrust Class Action

    Apple is preparing to file a summary judgment motion in California federal court seeking to end claims from a class of more than 185 million users in a long-running case accusing it of monopolizing the distribution of apps on its devices.

  • July 10, 2025

    Uber, Instacart Fight Seattle's Driver Rights Law At 9th Circ.

    A Ninth Circuit panel appeared split on Thursday while hearing Uber and Instacart's challenge to a Seattle city ordinance regulating deactivation of app-based worker accounts, with the judges seemingly at odds on whether the law forced commercial speech while still unconvinced of a First Amendment violation.

  • July 10, 2025

    'Admonition' But No More Amazon Penalty For Hidden Docs

    A federal judge in Washington state took Amazon.com to task Thursday for "bad faith" material review that labeled tens of thousands of documents as covered by attorney-client privilege despite involving no legal advice, but the judge, who is presiding over the Federal Trade Commission's Prime subscriptions case against the company, opted against further punishment.

  • July 10, 2025

    Apple, Visa And Mastercard Beat Payment Fee Collusion Suit

    An Illinois federal judge on Wednesday dismissed several retailers' proposed antitrust class action that accused Apple, Visa and Mastercard of scheming to restrain competition in point-of-sale transaction payment networks, saying the express terms of agreements retailers had claimed were anti-competitive showed otherwise.

  • July 10, 2025

    Original BBQ Joint Lays Claim To TM In Fight With Franchise

    The original location in a North Carolina chain of barbecue restaurants has shot back at a trademark infringement suit brought by the company that runs its sister restaurants, arguing it never lost ownership of the marks after the two entities split ways two decades ago.

  • July 10, 2025

    Joann's Ch. 11 Wind-Down Plan Confirmed In Del.

    The Chapter 11 wind-down plan of former arts and crafts retailer Joann Inc. received approval Thursday in Delaware bankruptcy court without opposition from any party in interest.

  • July 10, 2025

    Florida Restaurateur Can't Get Shrimp TM, Fed. Circ. Affirms

    The Federal Circuit on Thursday refused to revive an author and restaurateur's bid to register a trademark for "Yucatán Shrimp" at his Florida eatery named after his crime novels, backing the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's finding that the mark would be merely descriptive.

  • July 10, 2025

    College Apparel Co. Seeks New Trial In Penn State TM Case

    A print-on-demand company that was permanently barred from using The Pennsylvania State University's name or logos asked a federal judge for a new trademark infringement trial, saying the verdict form at the first trial was confusing to the jury and the university's evidence had not shown it used the marks illegally.

  • July 10, 2025

    Calif. Vape Co. Drops Claims Over Allegedly Counterfeit G Pen

    California-based GS Holistic LLC has reached a deal with a Michigan smoke shop that will end claims the retailer was selling counterfeit versions of its G Pen e-cigarettes without authorization at a fraction of the price, according to a notice issued by a federal judge.

  • July 10, 2025

    Tyson Says $55M Del. Poultry Plants Win Blocks Ga. Damages

    Tyson Foods wants to block any claim to damages in a poultry rendering company's antitrust lawsuit, telling a Georgia federal judge Wednesday that a Delaware state court already ruled that it overpaid to buy out the company and asserting that precludes any claims that it forced the firm into an underpriced buyout.

Expert Analysis

  • Va.'s Altered Surcharge Law Poses Constitutional Questions

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    Virginia's recently amended consumer protection law requiring sellers to display the total price rather than expressly prohibiting surcharges follows New York's recent revision of its antisurcharge statute and may raise similar First Amendment questions, says attorneys at Stinson.

  • Series

    Volunteering At Schools Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Speaking to elementary school students about the importance of college and other opportunities after high school — especially students who may not see those paths reflected in their daily lives — not only taught me the importance of giving back, but also helped to sharpen several skills essential to a successful legal practice, says Guillermo Escobedo at Constangy.

  • Attacks On Judicial Independence Tend To Manifest In 3 Ways

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    Attacks on judicial independence now run the gamut from gross (bald-faced interference) to systemic (structural changes) to insidious (efforts to undermine public trust), so lawyers, judges and the public must recognize the fateful moment in which we live and defend the rule of law every day, says Jim Moliterno at Washington and Lee University.

  • Prior Art Ruling Highlights Importance Of Detailed Elaboration

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    The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's recent decision in Ecto World v. RAI Strategic Holdings shows that when there is a possibility for discretionary denial, and the examiner has potentially overlooked prior art, patent owners should elaborate on as many of the denial factors as possible, says Frank Bernstein at Squire Patton.

  • Compliance Refresher For 'Made In USA' Labeling Claims

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    As tariffs reshape the trade landscape, companies hoping to invoke the powerful consumer appeal of “Made in USA” labels must understand the strict rules for making acceptable claims so they avoid the costly legal ramifications and brand damage possible from misrepresenting products as 100% American, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Appreciating Civil Procedure

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    If you’re like me, law school’s often complex and theoretical approach to teaching civil procedure may have contributed to an early struggle with the topic, but when seen from a practical perspective, new lawyers may find they enjoy mastering these rules, says Chloe Villagomez at Foster Garvey.

  • Appellate Guidance Needed On California Chatbot Litigation

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    There is wide variation in how courts are applying the California Invasion of Privacy Act against website owners that allegedly help third parties spy on visitors via chatbots — and the lack of appellate rulings creates uncertainty, especially as these cases move toward the summary judgment stage, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.

  • Calif. Bar Exam Fiasco Shows Why Attys Must Disclose AI Use

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    The recent revelation that a handful of questions from the controversial California bar exam administered in February were drafted using generative artificial intelligence demonstrates the continued importance of disclosure for attorneys who use AI tools, say attorneys at Troutman.

  • Opinion

    Anti-Counterfeiting Efforts Must Hold China Accountable

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    As the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development drafts guidelines for combating counterfeit goods, U.S. representatives must be frank about the need to hold Chinese platforms accountable for their role in counterfeiting — and specific about the changes that will be required, says Eli Clemens at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

  • Securing IP Protection For AI Avatars

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    As artificial intelligence avatars play an ever-expanding role in sales, operations and entertainment, companies must plan for intellectual property protection for these brand assets as their control will turn on the nuances of their creation and use, say attorneys at K&L Gates.

  • In 2nd Place, Va. 'Rocket Docket' Remains Old Reliable

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    The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia was again one of the fastest civil trial courts in the nation last year, and an interview with the court’s newest judge provides insights into why it continues to soar, says Robert Tata at Hunton.

  • CIPA May Not Be Necessary To Protect Ad Tech Plaintiffs

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    A California bill designed to protect businesses from advertising technology claims under the California Invasion of Privacy Act by amending the act retroactively has been highly contested by various consumer advocacy groups, but other existing law may sufficiently protect any plaintiff who suffers actual harm from such tech, says Justin Donoho at Duane Morris.

  • Parsing A Lack Of Antitrust Info-Sharing Enforcement Clarity

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    Information sharing among competing firms has recently faced dramatic changes in antitrust agency guidance, while courts grapple with the permissible scope of pricing algorithms, leaving companies in limbo, but potential Trump administration changes could offer some reprieve, say attorneys at Axinn.

  • How Attorneys Can Become Change Agents For Racial Equity

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    As the administration targets diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and law firms consider pulling back from their programs, lawyers who care about racial equity and justice can employ four strategies to create microspaces of justice, which can then be parlayed into drivers of transformational change, says Susan Sturm at Columbia Law School.

  • Public Cos. Must Heed Disclosure Risks Amid Trade Chaos

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    Ongoing uncertainties caused by President Donald Trump's shifting stances on tariffs and trade restrictions have exponentially escalated financial reporting pressures on public companies, so businesses must ensure that their operations and accounting practices align with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's standards, say Jennifer Lee at Jenner & Block and Edward Westerman at Secretariat Advisors.

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