NEW YORK — As the holiday shopping season kicks off, top luxury firms have stepped up efforts to protect their brands.
Louis Vuitton Malletier, Burberry Limited UK, Burberry Limited U.S., Marc Jacobs Trademarks, Givenchy, Loewe S.A., Celine S.A. and Kenzo S.A. have filed a trademark counterfeiting and infringement lawsuit against a Chinatown landlord in Manhattan federal court.
According to court documents, the lawsuit was filed against the estate of Vincent Terranova, the landlord of a number of properties located on Canal Street, and Terranova Real Property Management Corp., which manages and operates the properties. The specific addresses named in the lawsuit are 224 Canal, 226 Canal, 226A Canal, 234-238 Canal, 120 Walker Street and 120A Walker Street.
The lawsuit was filed Nov. 21, but was only recently made available. Lawyers for Terranova Real Property Management could not be reached for comment by press time.
Louis Vuitton, Burberry and the other named plaintiffs alleged that tenants at the properties named in the lawsuit were selling counterfeit merchandise that infringed on the firms’ registered trademarks and copyrights.
The landlord and management company responsible for the properties were notified that illegal activity was occurring on the premises in question, but did nothing to stop it, according to court papers.
The lawsuit is similar to a number of recent complaints filed by Louis Vuitton and other luxury goods manufacturers against landlords that seek to hold them vicariously liable for illegal activity occurring on their property.
The plaintiffs in the current suit asked the court for a permanent injunction against the landlord and for the maximum damages permitted for each counterfeit infringement. The complaint also asked the court to declare the property leases void and evict the current tenants.
Separately, Louis Vuitton Malletier S.A. filed a trademark counterfeiting and infringement lawsuit against LY USA Inc., Marco Leather Goods Ltd., Coco USA Inc., Chong Lam and Joyce Chan. The documents filed in Manhattan federal court allege that the defendants are “notorious counterfeiters, having imported, sold and/or distributed tens of thousands of counterfeit goods.” The complaint alleges that the defendants distributed counterfeit merchandise to kiosks and wholesalers throughout the country. Louis Vuitton Malletier S.A. asked the court for a permanent injunction and unspecified damages against the defendants.