Paris appeals court slashes damages eBay must pay in counterfeit fight with luxury giant LVMH

Paris court upholds eBay counterfeiting conviction

PARIS — A Paris appeals court has upheld a counterfeiting conviction against eBay in a 2008 case brought by French luxury giant LVMH, but slashed the amount of damages the online retailer is ordered to pay.

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, which is home to such high-end labels as Givenchy, Fendi, Emilio Pucci and Marc Jacobs, had complained it was hurt by the sale of knockoff bags and clothes on eBay.

The court that found against eBay in 2008 had ordered the company to pay more than euro38 million in damages. Friday’s ruling slashed that to euro5.7 million.

Both sides claimed victory, with LVMH hailing the ruling as a “major step in the further protection of consumers” and eBay France calling it a “major victory for eBay and French consumers.”