Does Tiffany destroy all the online auction sites?
From NYTimes
Tiffany & Company is suing eBay because they deliver fake of Tiffany products.
Tiffany requested eBay to get rid of their fake silver products from the auction site. However, eBay responded that it is impossible to distinguish which products is genuine, they could not have and see those items. and insist that the trademark owner Tiffany should identify the counterfeits of its products.
The article says that if Tiffany wins, eBay cannot sell fake items at all as well as flea market and traditional store. Its business model could be difficult to run.
Tiffany’s chair man Mr. Kowalski said, the core of this file is this style of distribution that let the counterfeit items spread.
I felt that each sides’ opinions sounded right, it is so difficult to judge. Probably they will compromise at the certain point. I’m interested in how do they solve this case with their business kept.
I don’t think monitoring the jewellery category more carefully is not the answer. That is the same as Youtube’s case, vicious circle.
finaly the article concludes
Although Judge Sullivan gave little indication of how he might rule, he pointed to legal precedents that have found that if a manufacturer or distributor continues to supply a product knowing it is engaging in trademark infringement, that manufacturer or distributor is “contributorily responsible” for any harm done as a result of the deceit.
reference
Tiffany and eBay in Fight Over Fakes - New York Times