EBay has won a long-running
court battle with Tiffany over the sale of counterfeit jewellery on
its US site.
Tiffany wanted damages and more action by eBay in blocking items
believed to be counterfeit, but a US judge ruled that the onus was
on the jeweller to enforce the protection of its brand, not
eBay.
EBay recently lost a similar case in France, when luxury goods
firm LVMH forced eBay to take stronger action to prevent the sale
of counterfeit items. EBay was also fined £30m.
But in the US, after a trial lasting four years, the judge said
eBay was not liable for the sale of counterfeit jewellery on its
site.
It would have only been liable, said the judge, if it had
continued to allow the listings of such items once they were known
to be counterfeit.
It is not known whether Tiffany will appeal the decision. EBay
says it will appeal the LVMH judgement.
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