Danish Clothing Company Sues China eBay Over Online Counterfeit Sales
According to The Shanghai Daily, Danish clothing company, Aktieselskabet Af 21 November 2001 owner of the Only, Vero Moda and Jack & Jones brands, has sued "eBay's China arm," eBay Eachnet, in a Shanghai court, for allowing the sale of counterfeits to occur through its online site. Aktieselskabet is seeking $25,000 in damages, a public apology, and an end to the sales.
My one minute Internet search revealed Aktieselskabet has brought legal action in the United States, Canada, and Australia to protect its tradenames. Aktieselskabet Af 21 November 2001 uninspiredly means "The November 21, 2001, Limited Liability Company," which might help to explain why the company is so protective of its clothing brand names.
According to this Xinhua story, eBay is claiming it simply provides "a platform on which registered users publish dealing information by themselves." EBay also makes the rather interesting claim that even though it charges for this service, it "never profit[s] from the deals carried out on it."
EBay also says EachNet has its own "IPR (intellectual property right) protection system" and "trademark owners will get good protection after registering on the system." Aktieselskabet apparently never registered.
We will seek to monitor this case and report back to you on it.
Comments (3)
Read through and enter the discussion by using the form at the endWho Would Wear My Cast Off Clothes? - December 25, 2006 10:58 PM
Too many people to wear someone else's cast off clothes would be distasteful, and many may say "never in a million years". BUT times are a changing, most folk are on a tight budget and really decent, quality clothes cost the earth, so buying clothes second hand makes real economic sense.
Sure there are charity and thrift shops around most street corners but the quantity and quality of goods on offer is often limited and time consuming.
China Law Blog - December 26, 2006 9:09 AM
Who would wear?
Thanks for checking in. There will always be those who buy new clothes and those who buy used clothes. There has to be.
JackAddison - September 18, 2008 9:48 PM
Very useful Comment.