Fashion house Christian Louboutin and technology company Meta have taken legal action against an individual who has been accused of promoting counterfeit Christian Louboutin products. These fake products were being sold in Mexico on various websites and social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. To combat the issue of counterfeits on its platforms, Meta has lodged a complaint with the Northern District Court of California, citing a violation of its terms of service. Christian Louboutin, a luxury brand, has also joined the lawsuit, claiming infringement of its intellectual property rights.
Earlier in 2021, Gucci and Facebook had already joined forces to file a joint lawsuit against a counterfeit seller. With the luxury personal goods market projected to reach €362 billion by year-end, Meta seeks to reassure the public. The company stated in a press release that it has implemented robust measures to protect intellectual property, including proactive detection and enforcement, a global notification and takedown program, and suspension procedures for repeat offenders. Meta also asserts that it offers prevention and reporting tools to businesses operating on its platforms.
According to multiple sources, online sales of counterfeit products have surged in recent months due to the increased digitalization of post-pandemic behaviors. In response, Meta claims to have removed over 1.7 million pieces of content from Facebook and Instagram in the second half of 2022 following user reports. Furthermore, the company states that it removed 115 million pieces of content “before being reported by a rights holder.”
The Union of Manufacturers for the International Protection of Intellectual Property (UNIFAB) reports that counterfeiting, spanning across all industries, results in approximately €6.7 billion in direct sales losses annually in France alone. Additionally, the country is said to lose €1.34 billion in tax revenue due to counterfeits.
Useful links:
1. International Trademark Association: Combating Counterfeiting
2. Union of Manufacturers for the International Protection of Intellectual Property
