Legal

On Aug. 16, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio issued Executive Order 225 (the “Order”) and related guidance regarding the “Key to NYC” vaccination requirements for nearly all patrons, employees, interns, volunteers, and contractors entering indoor dining, entertainment, recreation, and fitness settings. Under these requirements, all individuals age 12 or older must show proof that…

Sequential Brands Group, Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, reports Footwear News. The company, which owns Jessica Simpson, Joe’s Jeans, And1, Avia, and more brands, said in a press release that “significant debt on its corporate balance sheet” made it no longer able to operate its portfolio. Sequential is looking to sell all or…

What do the terms Taser, Escalator, and Aspirin have in common? They were once protected marks that have become generic. The term “Tiffany” likely has joined their ranks at least with regards to the name of a particular diamond ring setting. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals recently made clear that Tiffany’s 73 trademarks — many registered in connection with jewelry — will not protect it against others using “Tiffany” when that term has become commonly used to describe a particular six-prong diamond ring setting. Thus, anyone — even a discount retailer like Costco — can use it to describe that particular ring setting.

Retailers have faced tremendous pressure throughout the COVID-19 crisis, as top-line revenue and profits plummeted in many product verticals. Meanwhile, other segments, like essential retail and grocery, experienced overwhelming demand that surpassed operational capacity. At the height of the pandemic, grocery sales hit a record high of $9.3 billion. These retailers had to invest heavily in…

It was no April Fool’s joke when the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) changed the sales tax compliance requirements on April 1. As part of the Massachusetts Advance Payment Program, two big tax changes went into effect for qualifying retailers: one, the requirement to report sales tax is on an entirely different schedule from the…

Rapper Kayne West filed a lawsuit against Walmart on June 24, alleging that the retailer is knocking off one of his latest shoe designs, Yeezy Foam Runners. According to documents obtained by TMZ, West’s team filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing California’s Unfair Competition Law, which prohibits deceptive business practices. The lawsuit also claims that Walmart…

As state and federal governments lift mandatory safety measures following CDC guidance, businesses have begun cautiously reducing their protocols for the first time for both their employees and customers. National retailers like Trader Joe’s, Costco, Walmart, Target, and Starbucks have announced that vaccinated customers do not have to wear masks, and many have dropped the…

Alex and Ani, the jewelry company that grew into a billion-dollar business, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware on Wednesday. The company, founded by Carolyn Rafaelian, listed between $100 million and $500 million each in assets and liabilities, according to the filing. Its largest unsecured debts are with property management companies. It also owes the…

L Brands said Tuesday it will spin off its Victoria’s Secret brand rather than sell it, reports CNBC. The company said it received interest from multiple potential buyers, but its board concluded that separating Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works into two separate publicly traded companies would be a better option. In recent weeks,…

Macy's cannot offer the use of its Scan and Pay app for purchases from departments where employees make commissions, and must pay back commissions on such purchases, a labor relations arbitrator has ruled, reports RIS News. The determination applies to three collective bargaining agreements between Macy's and employees at stores in Boston and other New…