L’Oreal loses its eBay court case

EBAY has been cleared in a French court over the sale of fake L'Oreal products online.

The ruling in the Paris Tribunal de Grande Instance – the highest court in France – overturned a previous court judgment and said eBay was not liable for fakes being sold as it was only a “host” of the sale.

STORY:Ebay fined for selling fake goods

While eBay was helping web users to sell goods it was not liable for what was sold.

Ebay and L’Oreal have been told to work together under judicial mediation to find a way to stop the counterfeits being sold.

A L'Oreal spokesman said it was “glad to accept the court's decision” and would work towards measures to stop counterfeiting.

However, the company still has court actions outstanding in the UK, Spain and Germany. Ebay lost two similar French court cases by designer labels Hermes and Louis Vuitton-owner LVMH.

Image: Ebay trademark