Wayfair Escapes False-Advertising Claims in West Elm Patent Suit

Wayfair Inc. beat unfair competition and false advertising claims under federal and California law alleging furniture in its Foundstone collection infringes Williams-Sonoma Inc.’s West Elm brand’s design patents.

But Judge Patti B. Saris denied Wayfair’s request to toss a claim of unfair competition under Massachusetts law, finding it could survive even if Ninth Circuit precedent held such a claim precluded under federal law, according to an opinion issued Tuesday in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Williams-Sonoma sued Wayfair in December 2021 alleging products in Wayfair’s AllModern brand deliberately infringe nine design patents for chairs, lamps, and ...