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Luxury Brands Win Appeal Against Counterfeit Sellers in China.

BEIJING, April 19, 2006 -- The Beijing High People's Court upheld a previous ruling by Beijing No 2 Intermediate People's Court last December that found in favor of Prada, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Burberry and against China's Silk Street Market located in Beijing.

The upheld ruling requires the Silk Street Market to compensate each company whose trademark were infringed when used in connection with the sale of counterfeit goods.

After each of the companies acquired counterfeits in the marketplace, they brought a collective complaint against individuals selling the goods. After the suit was filed, the five fashion labels discovered counterfeit goods were still being sold in the marketplace, at which time the operators of the market were sued too.

An employee of Louis Vuitton purchased a bags in the market and two more the next day with local notary officials. The employee then reported it to the local industry and commerce administration, which confiscated 37 other handbags from the supermarket. The handbags were subsequently introduced as evidence in the trial.

The court launched an anti-counterfeiting campaign recently to step up efforts for trademark protection.