Rolex files civil claim against FTSK singer

Criminal charges have been dropped against the lead singer of US pop-punk band Forever the Sickest Kids for the sale of fake Rolex watches, although the manufacturer has been less forgiving.

Rolex has filed a civil lawsuit against Jonathan Cook (pictured extreme right) following his arrest and indictment earlier this year for trademark infringement and attempted distribution of counterfeit Rolex watches via an account on Craigslist, although official charges has been dropped.

Cook issued a public apology for his activities last month, saying he was unaware the sale of the watches was illegal.

The suit - filed in the US direct Court for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas on May 16 - alleges that Cook offered an investigator hired by Rolex a total of 15 "high-end replica" watches that infringed the watchmaker's trademarks for $3,525. A total of 20 counterfeit Rolexes were discovered during a search of Cook's home.

Rolex is claiming damages of $2m for each trademark infringements or an amount equal to three times its damages and/or the defendant's profits, according to court documents. 

A sample Craigslist ad presented as evidence suggests other watch brands were also on offer, including MontBlanc, Loui Vuitton, Tag Heuer, Breitling and Cartier.