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eBay fined €38m over fakes
Louis Vuitton claims damages

By Caroline McCarthy

Published: Tuesday 01 July 2008

A French court has ordered the online auction giant eBay to pay €38.6m to luxury goods powerhouse LVMH, parent company of Louis Vuitton handbags, according to Reuters.

LVMH, along with other luxury-brand groups such as Hermes and Tiffany & Co, has claimed eBay isn't strict enough about policing the sale of counterfeit goods on its site.

eBay promptly appealed the court decision, saying that LVMH was simply trying to crack down on competition.

LVMH's portfolio includes brands such as Acqua di Parma, De Beers, Dior, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Moet & Chandon and Thomas Pink.

Yesterday's ruling encompassed a number of individual cases brought by LVMH brands like Dior Couture, Guerlain, Givenchy and Kenzo. The €38.6m awarded fell short of the €50m that the luxury goods house had claimed in damages.