Fendi really takes counterfeiting seriously. In fact, the fashion company has just settled a $2.5 million lawsuit against the bankrupt Filene’s Basement as part of a suit filed back in 2006.
Apparently the company had been selling plenty of counterfeit Fendi goodies.
And Fendi isn’t stopping there, they’re going after several other retailers selling the fake items, such as Ashley Reed Trading, Inc., and its owners Scott and James Ressler.
Says Fendi’s CEO, Michael Burke:
├óΓé¼┼ôIt is trickier to go after the importer than after the final retailer. The importer has no assets here, as it mostly operates offshore. Our impression is that a great majority was manufactured in China, shipped to Italy and transshipped to the U.S. with fake invoices using fake business cards.”
It might be trickier but that isn’t stopping Fendi from going after them.
According to Burke, Fendi currently spends around “seven digits” annually to monitor counterfeit activity. Revealing:
“We have people in Brussels, Washington, Beijing at the LVMH level, and Fendi itself has staff in Hong Kong, Rome, New York, Paris and Tokyo providing additional monitoring. Add all that up and we’re talking 30 to 40 people, which doesn’t include prosecution, which [comes under] a separate budget.”
Don’t mess with Fendi or they’ll sue!
[Image via WENN.]
-
Categories
