Sure, we get the occasional brand vs. brand dustup in court, but the three-ring circus that opened this week, pitting Macy's against J.C. Penney and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia already has brought more color than that Apple-Samsung dispute last year—and that's without any of the colorful principals even making an appearance yet.

In the first day of testimony in a Manhattan court on Wednesday, the Stewart-Penney alliance and Macy's made the outlines of their arguments pretty clear.

Macy's believes that an agreement by Stewart's company to supply some of her homeware designs to a giant J.C. Penney "store within a store" violates Macy's agreement for its own Stewart-brand merchandise that has been renewed through 2018. Besides, they believe Martha Stewart and her company owe Macy's some loyalty because it struck a deal with her in 2004 when she was just out of prison for conspiracy.

J.C. Penney and Stewart, on the other hand, believe they're doing nothing wrong in planning to sell Stewart-designed stuff as long as it doesn't bear her actual name and likeness, which they concede would violate terms of the Macy's deal. Besides, this argument goes, a bunch of the stuff has already been manufactured overseas and is on boats on the way to the U.S. for their debut in Penney stores—and does Macy's really intend on asking these ships to turn around?Continue reading...

Boeing faces looming strike vote following Dreamliner tumult.

GE seeks inventions via social campaign.

Burberry lauded for London Fashion Week digital experience.

Amazon acts on controversy over German TV show about its workers.

Audi blocks use of GQ3 vehicle name by Qoros of China.

BP faces next bout of Gulf spill liability.

Cracker Barrel can't shake off activist shareholder.

Danone cuts 900 jobs in Europe.

Ferrari plans to price new supercar starting at 1 million euros.Continue reading...

Microsoft announces the departure of Windows chief (and Ballmer's heir apparent) in wake of Windows 8 launch.

LG breaks through with new smartphone.

Hostess Brands starts closing plants as workers strike.

Acura brings Dr. Phil and Suze Orman into its Christmas promo campaign.

Apple finally gives in on employee perks.

Bojangles recruits American Idol winner Scotty McCreery for campaign.

Cadillac shows design chops in China.

Callaway Golf drives buzz on Twitter for new high-tech driver.Continue reading...

ABC edges out NBC in the morning.

AOL pushes to grab TV-ad dollars.

Apple loses luster on its shares.

Audi set to buy Ducati, Bloomberg reports.

BlackBerry store sits as quiet marker of RIM failed strategy.

Coca-Cola profit beats estimates.

Coty says it has lined up capital for Avon bid.Continue reading...

Alec Baldwin quits Twitter following American Airlines row.

AstraZeneca slashes U.S. sales force.

BP faces more citations in oil spill.

Boeing hopes for easing of NLRB dispute after machinists ratify contract as it nears deal with Southwest for jet purchase and FedEx signals a big order.

Burger King not a hit with parents, survey says.

CVS/pharmacy debuts mobile shopping platform for smartphone users.

Chick-Fil-A ups commitment to college football.Continue reading...

AMC considers reality shows to complement Mad Men and Breaking Bad.

BP and Shell plan to resume oil exploration in Libya.

Boeing hopes rise for union accord that would end labor struggle.

CBS is upbeat about TV business in 2012.

Citigroup announces cuts of additional 4,500 jobs.

Daimler loses value with investors relative to BMW as the two companies race to finish in U.S. luxury-car sales for 2011 and as Daimler's Mercedes-Benz brand plans big boost in U.S. output.

Darden cuts forecast due to Olive Garden woes.Continue reading...

When it comes to evocative names, nothing can beat paint — except for, perhaps, another colorful product (nail polish).

As the US housing market faltered, sales of interior paint fell, so paint companies had to come up with something to encourage consumers to get their brushes out. The answer? Branding colors with names that carry emotion, intrigue, mystery — or even puzzlement.

Sue Kim, a color trend and forecast specialist for Valspar, a leading maker of paints, tells the New York Times, "For a long time we had to connect the color name with the general color reference. But now, we're exploring color names that are a representation of your lifestyle." So what color is your personal brand?Continue reading...