Judge: JCPenney Interfered With Macy’s Martha Stewart Contract

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If it feels like it’s been a while since you’ve heard about the brawl between JCPenney and Macy’s over golden girl Martha Stewart and her branded products, well, that’s because it has been: Six months after the two sides settled on terms that would allow both to sell Stewart stuff, a judge has ruled that JCPenney interfered in Macy’s contract with the homemaking maven when it came up with its own collection of home goods tied to her name.

That being said, the judge wrote in the ruling that Macy’s failed to prove that JCPenney was liable for any punitive damages, because the actions weren’t “malicious” or “immoral,” reports the Associated Press.

JCPenney is still on the hook to pay attorney’s fees and other monetary damages tied to the line of bath towels and home decor products hawked under the JCP Everyday brand last year.

JCPenney said last year it was scaling back the range of the products it wanted to sell under the Martha Stewart name, but is going to keep selling a small number of home decor items that weren’t part of the exclusive contract Macy’s had with Stewart’s company.

Judge: JC Penney interfered with Macy’s pact [Associated Press]

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist