Latest news with #LosAngeles-based
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nike's Settlement With Shoe Surgeon Defines Boundaries on Sneaker Customization
Nike Inc.'s proposed settlement with Shoe Surgeon has set some boundaries on sneaker customization. The settlement agreement is confidential, including the amount that Shoe Surgeon has agreed to pay Nike. More from WWD Nike's Brand New Sneaker Loafer Gets a Wild, Colorful Update All Eyes Are on Nike Ahead of Q4 Earnings Nike and A Ma Maniére Unveil 'Every Summer Tells a Story' Campaign Featuring Air Force 1 and Air Max 95 Sneakers for 'Act I: The Block' Court documents do include a proposed consent judgment and permanent injunction that needs to be signed off by the Manhattan federal district judge presiding over the case. The document includes Shoe Surgeon's acknowledgment that Nike is the exclusive owner of certain registered trademarks, trademark applications and related common law rights. It also requires the acknowledgment by Shoe Surgeon that the defendant's accused 'customization' includes using materials that Nike did not manufacture or authorize, as well as the agreement that the accused 'customization' was also not authorized by Nike. The permanent injunction bars Shoe Surgeon from any future conduct that could cause confusion with Nike's products and trademarks, including offering 'deconstruction'/'reconstruction' classes or workshops using Nike's trademarks. What is allowed is Shoe Surgeon's ability to provide limited 'one of one' services detailed in the parties' confidential settlement agreement. Those details weren't disclosed in the proposed consent judgment, but it did note that any 'one of one' service must include a 'clear, conspicuous written disclosure' that Shoe Surgeon's services are not in any way authorized by Nike, that the proposed changes may impact the performance of genuine Nike shoes, and that the services are for 'personal and non-commercial purposes.' Shoe Surgeon is also required to remove within 30 days all infringing or counterfeit products from its website. Nike filed its lawsuit against Shoe Surgeon in July 2024, claiming that the shoe customizer was trying to build a 'multifaceted retail empire' using Nike's trademark rights by creating and selling counterfeit Nike shoes, among other claims. The Los Angeles-based Shoe Surgeon in November denied those claims. The company is known for taking a footwear brand's known silhouette and then blending in other materials and identifying marks from other brands. And while Shoe Surgeon in its response said it has never made a Nike shoe from scratch, it did state that it works with an authentic Nike shoe bought from Nike and then customizes them. Last June, Shoe Surgeon was also on the receiving end of a lawsuit filed by French luxury leather goods brand Goyard in a Los Angeles federal district court. That case also involves allegations of trademark infringement. Nike is known for taking a hard stand against trademark infringers. In 2021, it filed a trademark infringement case against MSCHF, the company that created and sold a number of 'Satan Shoes' in collaboration with Lil Nas X. That case was settled later that year. Nike this month raised prices on select products by $2 to $10 on average, but also noted that the Jordan brand and Nike kids apparel and footwear won't see any increases. Higher priced footwear shoes will see price increased between $5 and $10. The athletic apparel and shoe brand is slated to post fourth quarter earnings on Thursday. Many analysts believe that the turnaround strategy at the brand could take a few more quarters to see fruition, mostly due to near-term challenges — including clearing up inventory imbalances — that include the impact from tariff increases. Best of WWD All the Retailers That Nike Left and Then Went Back Mikey Madison's Elegant Red Carpet Shoe Style [PHOTOS] Julia Fox's Sleekest and Boldest Shoe Looks Over the Years [Photos] Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Post
9 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Women's soccer club owned by Disney CEO Bob Iger and wife rips ICE raids — and brands itself ‘Immigrant City FC'
The women's professional soccer team co-owned by Disney boss Robert Iger and his wife Willow Bay has come out against the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement actions in the club's home city of Los Angeles — and branded itself 'Immigrant City FC' amid the controversy. Angel City FC, the National Women's Soccer League Team for which the Igers paid around $100 million for a controlling stake last year, posted a message on its official Instagram account over the Juneteenth holiday. The team said it was 'heartbroken by the fear and uncertainty many in our Los Angeles community are feeling right now,' referring to ICE raids in LA that have become a flashpoint in the simmering national debate over undocumented migrants. Advertisement 5 Angel City FC, the Los Angeles-based women's professional soccer team whose ownership group includes Disney CEO Bob Iger and his journalist wife Willow Bay, has come out against the Trump administration's immigration policies. Getty Images The post continued: 'At Angel City, we believe in the power of belonging. We know that our city is stronger because of its diversity and the people and families who shape it, love it, and call it home.' The statement is part of a larger campaign launched by Angel City FC called 'Immigrant City F.C.,' which includes the distribution of 10,000 bilingual T-shirts at a recent home match, according to the news site Deadline. The initiative was backed by the team's ownership group, including high-profile figures like Eva Longoria, Uzo Aduba, Jessica Chastain and America Ferrera. Advertisement All net proceeds from the shirt sales are being donated to Camino Immigration Services, a nonprofit law firm that represents undocumented migrants. While Iger is not involved in day-to-day management of the club, the Disney chief and his wife, who have gained a reputation for wanting to steer clear of political controversies, both signed off on the 'Immigrant City' campaign and were consulted through every step, according to Deadline. Los Angeles sports teams have been roped into the immigration debate in the last couple of days. The Dodgers, one of two LA-based Major League Baseball clubs, said they denied permission to federal agents with the Department of Homeland Security to gain access to Dodger Stadium's parking lot. Advertisement 5 Protesters were seen outside Dodger Stadium on Thursday after federal agents allegedly tried to gain access to the venue's parking lot. / MEGA The federal agents instead set up shop just outside of the stadium at Chavez Ravine — prompting protesters to descend on the scene. The Post has sought comment from Disney, Bay and the Angel City FC club. Iger, meanwhile, has been criticized along with other media executives for bending the knee to President Donald Trump. Advertisement In December 2024, Disney, the parent company of ABC, agreed to a $16 million settlement to resolve a defamation lawsuit brought by Trump. The case stemmed from repeated on-air statements by ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos, who said Trump had been 'found liable for rape' in the E. Jean Carroll civil trial. 5 Angel City FC posted a message on its official Instagram account. In fact, Trump was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation, not rape. After a federal judge in Florida denied Disney's motions to dismiss, and with discovery looming, the company agreed to pay $15 million to Trump's presidential foundation and museum, along with $1 million in legal fees. Earlier this month, Disney-owned ABC News faced another controversy when veteran correspondent Terry Moran was fired following a viral post on X. In the post, Moran called Trump and White House adviser Stephen Miller 'world-class haters,' claiming Miller's 'hatreds serve as his spiritual sustenance.' The post triggered swift condemnation from the White House, with Vice President JD Vance calling the remarks 'vile.' ABC suspended Moran within hours, citing a violation of its editorial standards, and shortly after announced his departure from the network. 5 Federal agents stage outside Gate E of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday. AP Advertisement Before President Trump was elected to a second term, Disney found itself at the center of America's cultural battles. Detractors, especially on the right, have accused Disney of being too political. In 2020, Disney publicly criticized Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act — dubbed the 'Don't Say Gay' law by opponents — which limited how gender identity and sexual orientation could be discussed in schools. After initially staying quiet, the company reversed course under pressure from employees and the public. That shift drew the ire of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who moved to strip Disney of its special governing district, Reedy Creek — a privilege the company had enjoyed for more than 50 years. The dispute dragged on for two years, landing in court before a settlement was reached in 2024. Advertisement 5 Fans hold up signs opposing recent ICE raids during a game between the Angel City FC and the North Carolina Courage at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on June 14. NWSL via Getty Images Conservatives have been critical of Disney's handling of LGBTQ themes in its programming—particularly content aimed at children. The most recent example involves the animated series 'Win or Lose,' in which Disney reportedly removed a transgender storyline involving a character originally portrayed as transitioning. Advertisement While the character remained in the show, key dialogue and narrative elements tied to their gender identity were cut before the series aired on Disney+. The company stated that such topics are best left to parents to address with their children—a move that was praised by many conservative viewers as a reasonable and respectful approach. In 2022, the company was criticized for initially removing — and then restoring — a same-sex kiss in 'Lightyear,' prompting international bans and boycotts.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tinder unveils major update that changes how users date
Tinder is set to introduce a new double date feature in the UK from mid-July, targeting Gen Z and young women seeking less intense dating scenarios. The dating app's new function allows users to team up with up to three friends, creating a pair that can then "swipe right" on other pairs. A match is made when just one like is registered from each pair, leading to the creation of a group chat where the two pairs can message each other and coordinate a date. After testing the feature in several international markets for months, Tinder reports it has been successful in attracting young people and women who are looking for a more relaxed and social approach to meeting new people. According to its internal data, nearly 90 per cent of double date profiles came from users under the age of 29. Generation Z – which is typically defined as those born between 1997 and 2012 – make up more than half of Tinder's global user base. The platform has been ramping up efforts to retain women and Gen Z users following the Covid pandemic, growing safety concerns and a broader shift in the way younger people approach dating. This has included rolling out additional safety features such as ID verification and 'share my date' – which allows users to share details of their date, including the time, place, and a photo of their match, with friends and family. Tinder, which launched in 2012, helped bring online dating into the mainstream and is now the world's most-used app with about 50 million users per month. The Los Angeles-based company is owned by Match Group, which owns a raft of dating platforms including Hinge and OkCupid. Data from the testing stage showed women were three times more likely to like a pair than they were individual profiles, and match rates have been significantly higher for those using the feature. Furthermore, Tinder said it was helping attract new and returning users to the app – with nearly 15% of those who accepted a double date invite either new to the platform or had recently reactivated their profile.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump admin eyes Mojave Desert groundwater as potential source for arid Arizona
The situation on the Colorado River — the water supply for 40 million Westerners and half of all Californians — is dire. The waterway's flows have shrunk 20 percent since the turn of the century and climate scientists say it's not unreasonable to think that another 20 percent could be lost in the coming decades. To cities, farmers, tribes and industries from Wyoming to Mexico — but especially in legally vulnerable Arizona — that looks like pain. To the Los Angeles-based water company Cadiz Inc., that looks like opportunity. After trying and failing for more than two decades to pump ancient groundwater from beneath the Mojave Desert and sell it to Southern California water districts, the controversial company has set its sights on new customers over the border in the Grand Canyon State. 'We are hopeful that our projects can support the Bureau's efforts to manage Colorado River resources and Lake Mead,' Cadiz CEO Susan Kennedy (a former chief of staff to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger) said on Wednesday. Her pitch: There's up to 2.5 million acre-feet of untapped water in the Mojave Desert her company can move and store across the arid Southwest. In California, the project is a perpetual political football, opposed by the likes of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who was broadly a champion of water projects but was concerned it would harm the desert environment. One former state lawmaker compared the dispute to 'Hatfield and McCoy, Palestinians and the Jews.' Now, Trump is getting in the mix. On Monday, the Interior Department announced plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with the latest incarnation of the project, called the Mojave Groundwater Bank, touting it as 'an important tool to improve drought resiliency in the Colorado River Basin' though recognizing that it is only in 'early development.' And on Tuesday, the Trump administration official leading Colorado River negotiations for the federal government suggested to water power players in Arizona that they consider the project. 'The Cadiz sponsors think they have a lot of groundwater that could go somewhere. If it turns out they are right, would Arizona want to have a conversation about that water?' Scott Cameron, an acting assistant secretary at the Interior Department, asked at a meeting of a state water committee. For the Trump administration, trumpeting Cadiz is a chance to show it's doing something about the Colorado River despite the seven Western states remaining sharply divided over how to divvy up water cuts after current rules expire in 2026. For Cadiz, the endorsement is a political lifeline after decades of in-state opposition — and a return to more favorable treatment under the Trump administration even after the company dumped a lobbying firm with powerful Trump ties, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, after Biden took office. Under the Biden administration, Cadiz rebranded itself as an environmental justice-focused company seeking to fill accessibility gaps in economically depressed regions of the state. Kennedy even expressed concern after the November election that a new Trump administration would push back on its plans to repurpose 80 miles of steel pipe it purchased from the terminated Keystone XL oil pipeline to transport water. Opponents of the project, including conservation groups who say it could harm sensitive desert ecosystems, still see it as the same old concept. 'It's not surprising that an administration that wasted over 2 billion gallons of water under the guise of wildfire response thinks it's a good idea to overdraft a desert aquifer that supports federally protected land,' said Neal Desai, the senior program director for the National Parks Conservation Association. It's likely the project will draw some interest within Arizona, especially among the lowest-priority water users who are desperate to protect their Colorado River supplies as the seven states that share the waterway negotiate over new rules to govern the river. The state has already committed to cutting more than a quarter of its use from the river, and any cuts beyond that will fall first on Central Arizona cities and tribes unless alternative deals can be reached. But it will take a lot more than interest to make a deal happen. Cadiz has run into opposition from California state lawmakers and the State Lands Commission, which after urging from state Sen. Monique Limón and Assemblymember Isaac Bryan told Kennedy in a letter last week not to start construction on the pipeline that would transfer water without agency buy-in, which could take a year to two years. Crucially, Cadiz would almost certainly need buy-in from the long-skeptical Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, because any deals with Arizona would likely include Metropolitan taking Cadiz's water and leaving a portion of its Colorado River water in Lake Mead in exchange. Many of the hurdles Metropolitan has cited in the past, from water quality concerns to operational challenges, remain — and the district's board of directors also includes two prominent California environmentalists. Cadiz has yet to formally approach Metropolitan about its new plan. 'Metropolitan's board does not currently have any pending items from Cadiz to consider and none are planned for the foreseeable future,' Metropolitan spokesperson Rebecca Kimitch said by email. The last time the board reviewed anything from Cadiz was in 2002, when it voted to reject the project, she said. But, amid high-stakes Colorado River negotiations, it might be hard for Metropolitan to say no to a request that could help ease the path to a deal for another state. Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICO's California Climate newsletter.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Damson Idris playing Black Panther? – Black Panther casting plays with the audience
The third part of the fan favorite is in development by Ryan Coogler , yet the cast is not out, and the speculations are rising day by day. Even Damson Idris recently offered a playful 'yes-no' in response to whether or not he's been in contact with the production house about a role in an upcoming Black Panther movie following recent rumors. Damson Idris's details Adamson Alade-Bo 'Damson' Idris, who was born 2 September 1991, is a British actor and entrepreneur. He is best known for starring in John Singleton's crime drama 'Snowfall,' in which he was a drug dealer, Franklin Saint, in the Los Angeles-based series, which debuted on 5 July 2017 and ended in 2023 after six seasons. His popularity has gone high after that, and he was recognizable after it with other films. He played the co-lead in the sci-fi action film 'Outside the Wire,' which was released in 2021. Now he seems to be an important character in the Marvel sequel. His games After 'Today Show,' Craig Melvin asserted his response means 'yes.' Idris teased, 'It could mean no.' When asked if he'd accept the role if it's offered, Idris gave a definitive 'yes.' About Chadwick Boseman He first played the role of T'Challa, appearing in 2016's 'Captain America: Civil War,' followed by the Black Panther feature film in 2018. The actor reprised the superhero role in 2018's 'Avengers: Infinity War' and 2019's 'Avengers: Endgame.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Boseman was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016 and died in August 2020. 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' was released in 2022 and dedicated to his memory. The film picked up following the death of T'Challa, with Letitia Wright's Shuri taking over the heroic title. In November 2024, Denzel Washington let it slip that he is being considered for a role in the third part of 'Black Panther.' During an interview in Australia promoting 'Gladiator II,' he said that Coogler was 'writing a part for me,' which the director has since confirmed.
