Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Proving Contributory Online Trademark Infringement

By Richard Raysman and Peter Brown

The ubiquity of the Web on computers, mobile phones and tablets offers businesses the opportunity to connect with consumers throughout the world in ways they never could before. Unfortunately, along with the success of legitimate online commerce, the distribution and sale of counterfeit products through professional-looking websites has also increased dramatically, particularly in the clothing, consumer electronics, pharmaceutical and footwear industries.

While estimates of the harm differ greatly among analysts, the sale of counterfeit and knockoff goods has been reported to cost American creators and producers billions of dollars per year. Online infringement harms many facets of the economy: Trademark owners suffer lost sales and lost brand value; consumers receive inauthentic products, or, at worst, dangerous goods; and federal and state governments lose tax revenues and incur law enforcement costs. In many cases, consumers are not fully aware of the nature of a transaction, since such virtual stores have legitimate-sounding domain names, often accept payment through major credit card companies, and run online advertisements from trusted providers ' all portraying the appearance of legitimacy.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

Legal Possession: What Does It Mean? Image

Possession of real property is a matter of physical fact. Having the right or legal entitlement to possession is not "possession," possession is "the fact of having or holding property in one's power." That power means having physical dominion and control over the property.

Warehouse Liability: Know Before You Stow! Image

As consumers continue to shift purchasing and consumption habits in the aftermath of the pandemic, manufacturers are increasingly reliant on third-party logistics and warehousing to ensure their products timely reach the market.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.