The meaning of expensive taste
A Paris court has slapped online auction firm, eBay, with a €1.7 million ($2.6 million) fine because punters are still using the site to flog Louis Vuitton purses and posh perfumes, violating a 2008 injunction supposed to prevent such shenanigans.
Indeed, it was handbags at dawn at Paris' Commercial Court, as eBay declared the fine was disproportionately high and that blocking consumers from bidding for the likes of Christian Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy and Kenzo perfumes was a policy that stinks.
Back in June of 2008, the picky Parisian court had demanded eBay cough up a whopping €35 million in damages for allowing cheap rip off LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) gear to be sold to the unwashed masses. Of course, for a company that sells bags for $150K a pop, a cool 35 mil in damages is virtually pocket change.
But it's not the first time eBay has incurred the wrath of the filthy rich. eBay has long been embroiled in legal battles all over Europe as it competes with Middle Eastern Souks to flog fake fanny packs and other such "must haves" to the have nots.
Companies have also contested eBay's right to use their trademarks in keyword searches and indeed, back in September the online auctioneer was given an 800 euro wrap on the knuckles, again by a Paris tribunal for using LVMH brand names in keyword searches.
