Luxottica wins mall challenge over fake Ray-Bans

An appeals court has ruled in favour of Luxottica Group in a legal dispute with a shopping mall over the sale of counterfeit goods.

The US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued a decision in the case brought against Airport Mini Mall LLC, backing up an earlier district court’s ruling that the discount mall operators were culpable for leasing to subtenants who were selling counterfeit versions of Ray-Ban eyewear, one of Luxottica’s iconic brands.

The mall had committed “contributory trademark infringement,” by allowing the sellers to do so, said the court. This is the latest in a string of lawsuits filed by brand owners against brick-and-mortar landlords who allow fakes to be sold on their premises.

Earlier this year, watchmaker Omega won a $1.1m lawsuit brought against the landlord of 375 Canal Street, New York City, concluding the landlord was either aware of wilfully blind to the sale of knock-off products.