Counterfeit goods represent a $600 billion problem across the globe and the practice costs businesses in the U.S. up to $250 billion a year, according to the International Anti Counterfeiting Coalition. Brands and law enforcement agencies have continued to fight counterfeiters, but with billions to be made, it doesn't appear as though the practice is coming to an end anytime soon.
In the latest move to protect its own brand, Chanel filed a suit charging 399 websites of selling counterfeit items. It also alleges these same sites are using its name to generate search engine results that lead consumers to buy fake goods. It pointed to sites with domain names such as chanelOnline.com and chanelhandbags-outlet.net as being misleading.
The law firm representing Chanel is currently handling similar cases for Tiffany and Louis Vuitton Malletier. The Tiffany suit, according to an Associated Press report, is against 223 sites, while Luis Vuitton targets 182.
A RetailWire poll in October of last year asked what group had the greatest ability to reduce counterfeit products on the market. Consumers (35 percent), law enforcement (20 percent) and retailers (20 percent) received the most votes.