Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, but is a diamond ring ever just a diamond ring?

Not if you’re Tiffany & Co. 

The New York-based luxury jeweler has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Costco Wholesale Corp. in the hopes of preventing the sullying—and cheapening—of its cherished brand. But the counterclaims of the wholesaling giant could see the term “tiffany” defined as a generic diamond setting.

When you’re a giant in the high-end jewelry business, you don’t want to be within a country mile of anything remotely generic or wholesale or you can kiss your margins, reputation and quite possibly your brand value goodbye. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time that Tiffany has had to tango with brands that claimed to sell "Tiffany" goods.

In December, Tiffany (the company, not the singer) sent a cease-and-desist letter to Costco after one of the jeweler’s customers alerted it that the wholesaler had signs in its Huntington Beach, CA, store promoting “Tiffany setting” rings. In a complaint filed in federal court last month, Tiffany claimed Costco “had apparently been selling different styles of rings for many years that it has falsely identified on in-store signage as ‘Tiffany.’” Not only are the rings not Tiffany, the jeweler says, but they are not manufactured by, approved by, licensed by or in any way associated with Tiffany.Continue reading...

At first glance, it may look like a real online store, but DesignsFauxReal.com is actually a counterfeit site mocking Web sites that sell counterfeit merchandise.

It's the latest reaction to a booming black market industry that has faked out real brands for years on street corners of big cities around the world and has now moved online. Just last week, the seizure of 1,500 counterfeit Chinese-made Hermes purses was announced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The fakes would have been worth as much as $14 million had they been sold at full price.Continue reading...

For marketers these days, it's all about digital and taking advantage of all it has to offer. Adidas, though, is pulling its wares off two of the web's major e-commerce hubs — Amazon and eBay — because it's convinced such sites are cheapening its image and damaging its brand value. According to the UK's Marketing Week, the ban goes into effect in January and will extend to its Reebok brand.

Adidas, on a high coming out of Euro 2012 and heading into the Olympics, isn't the only major brand that's pulling back on e-commerce sites — Nike and Asics are also restricting Internet sales, a move that has drawn the attention of German competition authorities. "Adidas isn't the first, and they're definitely not going to be the last to do what they did," said Wes Sheperd, CEO of Channel IQ, an online services provider catering to manufacturers, distributors and retailers, according to AuctionBytes.com. "There's a storm brewing here."Continue reading...

Adbusters' role in branding Occupy movement examined in New York Times as Occupy LA protesters dig in heels.

Amazon eyes China growth.

Apple critiqued for not getting social media (but does it matter to brand loyalists?) as digi-savvy toddlers' parents fuel iPad sales.

Black Friday sales boost LG and Samsung as e-tailers are poised for Cyber Monday lift.

BSkyB's James Murdoch loses investors' confidence.

China's Chery automaker launches Qoros brand as Subaru joint venture gains lifeline.

Coach, expanding in China, will list shares on  Hong Kong's Hang Seng stock exchange.

Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Nestle and Mars sign European pledge to only promote nutritious products on their websites.

Disney releases mobile app for Spider-Man, as the Marvel-owned web-slinger finds his feet on Broadway.Continue reading...

Cyber Monday, the first Monday after American Thanksgiving, is the busiest online shopping day of the year thanks to promotions by brands (such as Verizon, above) touting web-exclusive specials to lure (panicked) holiday shoppers. This year's Cyber Monday tally is expected to reach $1.2 billion in sales, topping last year's $1 billion Cyber Monday take, according to comScore analyst Andrew Lipsman.

As for the just passed Black Friday web sales, comScore reported Sunday that U.S. retail e-commerce spending rose 26% on Nov. 25th compared with the same day last year. The firm reported $816 million in online sales for the day, up from $648 million.

"Despite some analysts’ predictions that the flurry of brick-and-mortar retailers opening their doors early for Black Friday would pull dollars from online retail, we still saw a banner day for e-commerce with more than $800 million in spending,” commented comScore chairman, Gian Fulgoni. "With brick-and-mortar retail also reporting strong gains on Black Friday, it’s clear that the heavy promotional activity had a positive impact on both channels."

Another web-only special returning year: in advance of Cyber Monday, U.S. officials have reportedly shut down more than 130 websites selling counterfeit goods by seizing their domain names.

Classy Coaster

If only this were more than a design concept. Designer David Riesenberg has come up with a “Ryesenberg” whiskey bottle (at right) with a detachable label that's intended to be produced from the actual barrel in which the whiskey is aged, The Dieline reports.

The wood from the barrel would be dried, pressed and silkscreened and removed to reveal the glass bottle embossed with the brand name. Each label is unique and (apparently) retains a slight wood-and-whiskey aroma.

Hopefully some smart distiller will wrap this idea around a real bottle of whiskey.Continue reading...

China really is picking up on this whole consumer culture thing.

A scandal came to a head late last week as the head of Shanghai-based luxury furniture brand DaVinci melted down at a press conference in which she said allegations that it deals in counterfeit furniture — sold as "made in Italy" but in fact made in China — were false.

As the New York Times explains, "DaVinci furniture stores have been places where wealthy Chinese in (Shanghai) and five other big cities can indulge their appetite for imported luxury. Promoting itself as 'a haven for premium products,' DaVinci is the place to go for Versace sofas, sumptuous Fendi Casa calf-skin couches or stylish chaise lounges stamped Made in Italy. A DaVinci bedroom set can sell for $100,000."

The scandal exemplifies how fragile the brand relationship is in China and how Chinese consumers are increasingly upset about counterfeiting.Continue reading...

As the world's largest online marketplace, eBay has to constantly defend its brand against vendors selling knock-off branded goods on its site.

To make clear its commitment to thwarting counterfeiters, eBay has partnered with the US Council of Fashion Designers of America on "You Can't Fake Fashion," a campaign to raise awareness against counterfeit goods and celebrate original design.Continue reading...