UKIE welcomes eBay ruling

Trade body UKIE has praised the news that eBay could be accountable for its users selling counterfeit goods.

The European Court of Justice ruled that trade sites may be liable as part of a ruling on a case filed by cosmetic firm L’Oreal.

The court said that owners of online marketplaces are not exempt from liability if they have control over the items sold on their sites.

UKIE welcomes this news as another important step forward in recognising the collective approach that needs to be taken by rights holders, ISPs and intermediaries to work together to ensure consumers have access to legitimate, safe products in the marketplace,” UKIE’s public affairs manager Dan Wood told MCV.

The ruling was in response to a UK High Court request for classification over whether online marketplaces may be liable for what’s sold on its sites.