A French court has ordered eBay to pay 40m euros ($63m) in damages to luxury goods group LVMH for allowing online auctions of fake copies of its goods.
LVMH had claimed the damages because it said eBay's French site had not done enough to stop the sale of counterfeit bags, perfumes and other items.
The decision comes a month after eBay was ordered to pay 20,000 euros to another French goods firm, Hermes.
The brands affected include Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Givenchy.
After the fines were announced, eBay said it would appeal against the decision.
'Illicit'
The case against eBay in a commercial court in Paris was brought jointly by six brands belonging to the LVMH group.
Louis Vuitton Malletier, the group's handbag and luggage section, and clothing brand Christian Dior Couture accused eBay of "negligence" in allowing illegal copies of their goods to be sold in online auctions.
Four perfume brands - Dior, Guerlain, Kenzo and Givenchy - sued for what they called "illicit sales" of their products.
They alleged that even auctions involving their legitimate perfumes were illegal, because only specialist dealers were permitted to sell them. According to the judgement, eBay must pay 19.28m euros to Luis Vuitton Malletier, 17.3m to Christian Dior Couture and 3.25m to the perfume brands.

Oh oh..... naughty naughty.

A French court has ordered eBay to pay 40m euros ($63m) in damages to luxury goods group LVMH for allowing online auctions of fake copies of its goods.

LVMH had claimed the damages because it said eBay's French site had not done enough to stop the sale of counterfeit bags, perfumes and other items.
The decision comes a month after eBay was ordered to pay 20,000 euros to another French goods firm, Hermes.

The brands affected include Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Givenchy. After the fines were announced, eBay said it would appeal against the decision.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7481241.stm

Could this be a sign of things for come?

Will even more brands look to take action against eBay if their products are being exploited?

eBay's misery continues!

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its about time really, wouldnt be allowed in the high street.

Yet another FVF increase...

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this is good! maybe finally we can see a reduction in fakes on ebay?

This is not good for eBayers or free trade at all. Especially the part that says "They alleged that even auctions involving their legitimate perfumes were illegal, because only specialist dealers were permitted to sell them." Trademark holders are overstepping their bounds trying to gain TOTAL control over their products. Look at what these honest sellers have had to add to the bottom of each and every listing - Item number: 120276289912. This is just a glimpse of the headaches VERO brand owners have been causing sellers. Also look at http://www.tabberone.com/ for more interesting info on how TM holders abuse the law and bully ebay sellers. I, for one, am sick of it.

sorry but i cant contain my glee over ebays misery... hey that ryhm'd lol. what goes around comes around.

lifes a b**ch then you marry one, oh no thats somehting else ....but could actually be connected to ebay is some ways lol

Very true it would not be allowed in the high street, but other situations arise in the high street such as;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7473807.stm

Individuals buying tv sets that are going to be out of date in no time, but huge guzzling leagally produced tv firms can do this. To be honest I just think its all a joke, depending on what side of the fence one is on depends on ones thoughts, I am not saying selling fakes is ok, and i am not condoning it, what I am saying is, fine firms want to tread the moral gorund, but only when it suits them, it terms of balance sheet figures.

I don't agree with this ruling at all. I'm sorry but if Louis Vuitton make a bag and charge £1000 for it but then the Chinese produce an exact copy for £20 that's Louis Vuittons problem. If they charged say around £40 for the Louis Vuitton bag in the first place no one would buy the Chinese fakes. Just another example of manufacturers forcing everyone to pay more for things.

Originally Posted by ADC

I don't agree with this ruling at all. I'm sorry but if Louis Vuitton make a bag and charge £1000 for it but then the Chinese produce an exact copy for £20 that's Louis Vuittons problem. If they charged say around £40 for the Louis Vuitton bag in the first place no one would buy the Chinese fakes. Just another example of manufacturers forcing everyone to pay more for things.

Do you run a business yourself? A business that seeks a profit that is.

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