In contrast to the recent July 2008 French high court ruling against online marketplace eBay for the sale of counterfeit LVMH goods on its website, a US federal court has ruled in eBay’s favor in a suit brought on by luxury jeweler Tiffany.

On July 14, 2008, U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan in New York found Tiffany responsible for policing its trademark on eBay.

"This ruling allows sellers of counterfeit goods on eBay to victimize consumers,” said Mark Aaron, a Tiffany vice president.

The lawsuit began in 2004 when Tiffany claimed that over 75 percent of Tiffany jewelry sold on eBay was counterfeit.

Nichola Sharp, an eBay spokeswoman countered, “The court ruling reaffirms we have been doing enough to keep counterfeits off the site.”

Important Links:
Court Clears eBay in Suit Over Counterfeit Goods, The New York Times 
Tiffany and eBay in Fight Over Fakes, The New York Times 

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Internet auction site eBay has been ordered by a French court to pay $61 million in damages to luxury goods company LVMH Moët Hennessy over the sale of counterfeit LVMH goods on their website.

Important Links:
Moment of truth for Ebay on fake luxury goods, Financial Times
Court orders eBay to pay $61M in Louis Vuitton knockoff case, Associated Press
eBay fined £31m over sales of fake luxury goods, The Independent

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