eBay fined for selling fake Louis Vuitton goods online

AFP, June, 2008

PARIS (AFP) — A French court on Monday ordered online auctioneer eBay to pay nearly 40 million euros in damages to Louis Vuitton for selling fake luxury goods, in a ruling cheered as a victory for copyright protection.

The Paris commercial court ruled in favour of six LVMH brands and also barred eBay from selling four perfumes -- Christian Dior, Kenzo, Givenchy and Guerlain -- on its websites.

The world's largest online auctioneer, eBay immediately announced it would lodge an appeal, rejecting the view that the court had upheld copyright law.

"This decision is not based on combating counterfeit material. It is based on LVMH's desire to protect its commercial practices and exclude competition," said a spokeswoman for eBay in Paris.

"This is being done at the expense of the consumers and sellers to whom eBay is always offering opportunities," she added.

The court found that eBay had committed "serious ...