Ebay fined 63 Million for selling fake Louis Vuitton

A Paris court on Monday ordered Internet auctioneer eBay to pay $63 million in damages to Louis Vuitton for selling fake luxury goods online, according to reports.

The court also barred eBay from selling four perfume brands -- Christian Dior, Kenzo, Givenchy and Guerlain.

eBay, the world's largest online auctioneer, said it would lodge an appeal and said the decision was not a victory for 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," a spokeswoman for eBay in Paris said.

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

eBay was ordered to pay $30.40 million to LVMH and $25.7 to its sister company Christian Dior Couture for damage to their brand images and causing moral harm.

LVMH told AFP the decision was a major coup against illegal Internet sales.

Your Ad Here

"It is a major first, because of the principles that it recognizes and the amount sought," said Pierre Gode, an aide to LVMH president Bernard Arnault.

The court barred eBay from running ads for the perfume and cosmetic brands or it would face a fine of $79,000 per day.