Legal

Staples offered to give up $1.25 billion in commercial contracts to acquire Office Depot, but federal regulators have rejected it, the company said Monday. The Federal Trade Commission, which is suing to stop the $6.3 billion merger, declined comment on Staples’ claim. Staples said it will continue its court fight to acquire its competitor headquartered…

Trade officials of the United States issued a warning to China-based Alibaba Group Holding again, as complaints continue to come in from brand owners regarding the proliferation of counterfeit goods on the e-commerce giant's online sales websites. A report released by the U.S. Trade Representative on the topic of piracy in global markets said that…

Congress introduced a new spending bill this week that could avert a government shutdown, and it could also spell relief for eBay and its sellers. eBay has been urging sellers to write to Congress opposing two bills that would require online sellers to collect sales tax even in states where they don't have nexus: the…

If UPS has its way, it could cost more to ship a package through the U.S. Postal Service. The shipping giant is petitioning federal regulators to force the Postal Service to adjust the way it calculates its costs, arguing that the agency is using the proceeds from its monopoly First Class mail to subsidize the…

The National Retail Federation yesterday called on Congress to reject a customs reauthorization bill set for a vote this week unless it includes a provision allowing states to require online merchants to collect sales tax the same as local stores.

U.S. officials on Wednesday sued J.C. Penney, accusing the retailer of deceiving consumers by advertising textile fiber products as containing bamboo and bamboo fiber, when they actually contain rayon. According to a complaint filed by the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission, J.C. Penney in "numerous instances" deceptively advertised products such as men's socks,…

Four U.S. retailers agreed to pay $1.3 million of fines to settle U.S. civil charges that they deceived consumers by falsely labeling and advertising textile products as containing bamboo, when they were actually made from rayon. Bed Bath & Beyond will pay $500,000, Nordstrom will pay $360,000, J.C. Penney will pay $290,000 and outdoor gear…

eBay sellers should be on the lookout for Good 'Til Cancelled credits on their statements thanks to a lawsuit filed in 2011. Did eBay deliberately trick customers into paying recurring fees for its "Good 'Til Cancelled" listings, which automatically renew every 30 days until the seller cancels the listing or the item is sold? That…

The Federal Trade Commission has taken the first step toward blocking the proposed $6.3 billion merger of Staples and Office Depot, saying the deal would hurt competition in the market for office supplies sold to large corporations. The commission filed an administrative complaint charging that the merger between Massachusetts-based Staples, the world's largest seller of…

The Puerto Rico unit of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. sued the island’s government, seeking to overturn a new tax the retailer calls unfairly high. Enacted in May, Puerto Rico’s Act 72-2015 increases to 6.5 percent from 2 percent the tax on goods imported from offshore affiliates to local companies with gross revenues of more than $2.75 billion.…