Investigation by IPCybercrime Leads to First Online Marketplace Found Liable for Counterfeiting
Plano, TX (PRWEB) October 15, 2013 -- On October 8th, 2013 a Los Angeles Federal Court found the online B2B marketplace TradeKey.com liable for Contributory Counterfeiting. In May 2011, luxury brands Chloe, Alfred Dunhill, Panerai, Montblanc and A. Lange & Söhne filed suit against TradeKey (Pvt) Ltd. and its parent company Sawabeh Information Services Co. (2:11-CV-04147). "This historic decision marks the first time an online marketplace was successfully found liable for the sale of counterfeit goods through their website. For years this has been the 'Holy Grail' sought by the major luxury brands." says Rob Holmes of IPCybercrime.
The year-long investigation, conducted by IPCybercrime, entailed going deep cover as several different counterfeiters, making dozens of online purchases, old fashioned gumshoe work and an action-packed raid on a hi-tech facility. “Finally, it is worth noting that the private investigators involved in this case have a substantial track record in federal court litigation. ‘Evidence adduced through Rob Holmes’ and IPCybercrime’s internet investigations has been relied on by multiple courts finding in favor of famous plaintiff brand owners such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Microsoft, Gucci, and others.’” said the Court.
IPCybercrime is an Intellectual Property investigation and consultancy firm based in Plano, Texas. Two brothers, Rob Holmes and Jason Holmes, have spent much of their lives hunting counterfeiters, originally working for their father’s firm in New York City. Since the 1990s, the Holmes brothers have been tracking down bad guys on the web for their clients who include many of the world's most valuable brands. IPCybercrime was also the firm retained in the 2009 landmark case Louis Vuitton v. Akanoc where a Northern California Federal Court found the first Internet Service Provider liable for Contributory Counterfeiting.
The enforcement of the sale of counterfeit goods has been a major focus of law enforcement and commerce worldwide, with proven links between the illicit trade in counterfeit goods and organized crime groups, both international and domestic.
Rob Holmes, IPCybercrime.com LLC, http://www.ipcybercrime.com, +1 (972) 422-2100 701, [email protected]
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