Illegal drawstrings sounds like a line from an old-time Western, but retailer J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE:JCP) probably wasn't amused after recently agreeing to settle out of court for $350,000 amid allegations that it sold children's clothes with "illegal drawstrings." I guess Wisconsin is the only state with this law so far.

The infringement came after Penney's sold children's hooded sweatshirts with drawstrings around the neck in the fall of 2005. Penney's, however, immediately removed the sweatshirts and cooperated with a manufacturer's voluntary recall with the U.S. Consumer Protection Safety Commission. Upon settling the case, the retailer made no admission that it violated the law.

Apparently, Wisconsin was the first state to make children's drawstrings illegal, although a voluntary standard is in place nationally. The Wisconsin ban is supported by state chapters of the Safe Kids Coalition -- an organization I support due to the fact that it stringently looks after the best interests of all children.

The U.S Consumer Protection Safety Commission received reports of 22 deaths and 48 non-fatal incidents involving the entanglement of children's clothing drawstrings from the period of 1985 to 1999, so making drawstrings illegal perhaps is not a bad idea after all. This case will possibly make clothing manufacturers get innovative in the design process again.