EBay Fined For Allowing Users To Sell Fake Designer Goods

A court in Paris, France, has decided today that eBay needs to pay some 50,000 Euro to Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy and Kenzo, as a follow of allowing its users to sell fake leather goods and perfumes with these brands via their auctions system.

The trial has been ongoing for about one year, the companies accusing eBay that they were aware of the fake merchandise users were selling, thus prejudicing these companies.

eBay representatives stated that they are going to appeal this sentence.

However, this case isn’t the only action taken against eBay by luxury goods manufacturers. Other groups, like Hermes and L’Oreal sued the website and claimed damages. While Hermes won the law suit, L’Oreal is still waiting for a court decision regarding their accusations against eBay.

Moreover, the luxury goods manufacturers claim that eBay should not allow their users to sell real designer goods at auction, because they are the only ones who have the legal right to sell those goods via agreed merchants.

If the French retailers are going to win and get a final decision from the law court, it would be interesting how eBay would adjust their auction system in order to avoid such huge fines in the future.