This article is part of our Rising Stars Portfolios series.
Costco's
The Supreme Court evenly split 4-4 in a vote on the dispute. The complaint by Omega, a unit of Swatch, dealt with Costco's sale of discounted Seamaster watches purchased overseas, where Omega demands lower prices than it does in the U.S. Omega's defending itself using copyright laws that help it keep such products off discounters' shelves in the U.S.
The case will now get shot back to lower courts, where Costco has the opportunity to fight on regarding the sales of products obtained from the gray market. But for now, a previous ruling against Costco stands.
Costco has plenty of friends on its side in this case, including eBay
On the other hand, Omega had some big-industry buddies supporting it, too. Not surprisingly, given historical copyright cases, its allies included the film, publishing, and music industries.
This latest legal setback may not have made life easier for Costco, but whether it wins or loses in these continued skirmishes with Omega, I have a funny feeling that the court of public opinion will rule solidly on Costco's side.
Good deals on high-quality merchandise have led shoppers to love Costco and its corporate supporters, while investors appreciate these stores ability to offer such discounts profitably. So far, though, the courts don't seem to agree. That's an ongoing risk for Costco and other discounters, not to mention many consumers' budgets.