Tiffany Appeals eBay Ruling

Last month, a U.S. District Court judge sided with eBay when ruling on Tiffany & Co.’s suit against the auction business.  Tiffany proved its persistence today by filing an appeal.

Patrick Dorsey, general counsel for Tiffany, stated, "Unfortunately, the trial court incorrectly held that trademark holders and not eBay are responsible for policing the eBay site.  The effect of this is that eBay can continue to profit at the expense of consumers and trademark holders."

 

Dorsey then continued, "In our view, this approach makes no sense as a matter of law or policy.  Once eBay has reason to know that a specific brand like TIFFANY & CO. is being widely counterfeited and sold, eBay should be compelled to investigate and take action to protect its customers and stop the illegal conduct."

eBay’s been up to its neck in these sorts of matters lately, with recent developments including a $63 million judgment against it in France and a meeting with British luxury goods manufacturers.  Having the Tiffany ruling overturned would split the good/bad tie and possibly set some new legal precedents in America.

Lawyers on every side are probably having fun, anyway, and eBay’s investors will be happy to know that the company’s stock is building on a three-day climb.