Ebay Being Sued Over fake Goods

Everyone knows that when you are buying something on the Internet auction website Ebay that you are taking a chance. You never know what you are going to get. Its a little like the old wild west. There are some companies out there now who are interested in maintaining their good names and are now cracking down on Ebay and the amount of fake and second rate merchandise that it allows to be sold on its site. More than one company in fact has already sued Ebay successfully and there are likely more to come in the future. On June 30th a french court ruled that Ebay had to pay $63 million in damages to a group of luxury brand makers which included Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Givency. The court stated that these companies are owed the damages because Ebay was not doing enough to prevent the sale of knockoff merchandise that is being sold on its site in these company's names. A month earlier another french court ruled that Ebay owed $32,000 in damages to luxury retailer Hermes for the same reasons. Back here in the U.S. Tiffany and Company has a suit against Ebay which is currently awaiting a ruling. These companies all claim that their brand names are being damaged by Ebay because it allows cheap knockoffs to be listed on its site as genuine merchandise and that the site does little to stop it. Ebay has appealed the rulings.