The future looks bleak and lonely for Marshall Field & Co., according to “the Trib’s”:http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0607230300jul23,1,4982727.story?coll=chi-business-hed Sandra Jones:

bq. Federated, for the most part, isn’t using the mothballed brand names in any substantial way. And the retailer has expressed no interest in selling or licensing them. But it doesn’t want competitors to gain access to the names, either. It’s a common tactic, and one that has become more widespread, particularly in the technology industry, as American business consolidates.