Fashion from the Alexander Wang Fall 2016 collection is modeled during New York Fashion Week, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. The brand is filing more lawsuits in its battle against fake goods. Photo: Associated Press
Luxury brands are getting more aggressive about taking suspected counterfeiters to court.
After years of debate in the luxury industry about how to publicly tackle counterfeit goods, a growing number of high-end names from Gucci to Moncler and Alexander Wang are suing sellers of fakes, both in China and the West. The legal action comes as brands grapple with an explosion of fake goods on e-commerce and social-media platforms.
Fashion brand Alexander Wang, which sued the owners of 459 websites believed to be selling counterfeit handbags, footwear and clothing last year, won a $90 million judgement this month in a New York district court. The court froze the websites and transferred their domain names ? many of which are believed to originate in China ? to the designer. Alexander Wang, in a statement, said it was ?pleased? by the court?s verdict and would protect its brand by ?maintaining constant vigilance on a global scale.?
The lawsuits are a ?strategic change? for companies who haven?t always been vocal or public about their battle against fake goods, said Paolo Beconcino, a Beijing-based consultant for Squire Patton Boggs law firm, who represents half a dozen Western brands in lawsuits against counterfeiters. In the past, many brands focused mainly on raids and se...