Legal

Borders Gets More Time to Decide on Leases
March 18, 2011

Landlords anxious to know whether their centers will be affected by the Borders reorganization will have to wait a little longer. The bankruptcy court granted the retailer an extension to decide which leases to keep and which to terminate. In addition, the court approved $505 million in debtor-in-possession financing Borders arranged prior to filing for Chapter 11.

J. Jill Sold Again
March 17, 2011

Golden Gate Capital Corp., a private equity firm, agreed to sell a majority stake in the J. Jill clothing business to Arcapita Bank BSC, a Bahrain-based investment bank, less than two years after buying the company.

Clinton Argues for 'Consumption Tax' on E-Commerce
March 17, 2011

On the issue of taxes applied to internet retailers, former President Bill Clinton appeared to more fully shift away from the laissez-faire stance he struck while in office, arguing that a "consumption tax" should be placed on e-commerce. Clinton spoke at the 40th public meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the body that oveersees the Domain Name System (DNS) at the heart of the internet.

AP and Obey Clothing Settle 'HOPE' Image Copyright Dispute
March 17, 2011

The Associated Press and a clothing maker distributing merchandise based on artist Shepard Fairey's work have settled copyright claims stemming from the use of an AP photograph to create the artist's Barack Obama 'HOPE' image.

AP Sues Clothing Retailers Over 'HOPE' Image
March 14, 2011

The Associated Press has sued Urban Outfitters and other clothing retailers in federal court, accusing them of selling T-shirts that violate the news agency's copyright of a photograph of Barack Obama that an artist's "HOPE" image was based on.

Bankrupt Rugged Bear Chain Closes All 29 Stores
March 14, 2011

Rugged Bear is closing all 29 stores after more than 30 years of selling children's clothes throughout the Northeast. The liquidation comes after the struggling retailer announced it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Jan. 25. Going-out-of-business sales began in all stores on March 4 and will continue until all merchandise is sold.

Wal-Mart Worker Group Seeks Recusal From Gender-Bias Case
March 11, 2011

Wal-Mart Watch, a union-funded group that advocates for Wal-Mart Stores' workers, said Justice Antonin Scalia should disqualify himself when the U.S. Supreme Court considers the company’s bid to derail a gender-bias suit on behalf of potentially one million employees.

New Tax Law Forces Amazon to Cut Ties With Illinois Affiliates
March 11, 2011

Amazon said it's severing ties with affiliates in Illinois, citing a law signed that imposes taxes on consumers who make online purchases. The affiliates — websites that send customers to Amazon through links — will no longer be paid for sales that result from the referrals, Seattle-based Amazon said in an email.