Thebattle between online auction firm eBay and luxury goods
manufacturershas moved a step closer to resolution,
with a French court ruling they must co-operate to halt counterfeit
sales.
The auction firm has faced legal challenges by top brands
including
Tiffany's, Hermès and L'Oréal, who have accused eBay of failing
to stop the sale of counterfeit goods through its site.
In the latest challenge by L'Oréal, Paris's Tribunal de Grande
Instance ruled that eBay was not liable and ordered the two
companies to collaborate on combating the problem, according to the
Financial Times.
The court said eBay was making a reasonable effort to keep fake
goods off its site, but the process could be improved through
collaboration that will be monitored by a court-appointed
mediator.
L'Oréal said it was satisfied with the court's ruling and eBay
said the ruling supported the auction firm's view that
collaboration and not litigation was the best way of tackling
counterfeit sales.