Macy's sues Martha Stewart over JCP deal

HTT Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 1/24/2012 9:36:46 AM

New York - Macy's has filed suit against Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia in New York State Supreme Court over  MSLO's pending deal to launch products exclusively with JCPenney in 2013.

According to the Wall Street Journal: "In its court filing, Macy's indicated it was seeking preliminary and permanent injunctions barring Martha Stewart Living from violating its contract, noting the Penney agreement would include products that fall within exclusive categories currently under the Macy's pact."

Last month, Penney took at 16.6% stake in MSLO and signed an exclusive merchandising deal that included home - the heart of the Stewart exclusive which launched at Macy's in 2007. The Macy's exclusive was in effect through 2012.

The pact with JCPenney calls for the development of a Martha Stewart ecommerce site as well as shop-in-shops at Penney stores.

Macy's filed suit yesterday - just ahead of JCPenney's presentation to analysts of its new strategy, which takes place tomorrow in Manhattan. So far, there's been no public response from JCP.