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Amazon and Weber File Joint Lawsuit Against Counterfeiters
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Rhea-AI Summary
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Weber Inc. (NYSE: WEBR) have filed a lawsuit against 12 defendants for selling counterfeit Weber products on Amazon's platform. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, claims defendants misled customers about product authenticity. Amazon has closed the defendants' accounts and refunded affected customers. Amazon has invested over $700 million in anti-counterfeiting measures, employing more than 10,000 staff to protect its marketplace.
Positive
Amazon's proactive measures include refunding impacted customers and closing accounts of defendants.
Significant investment in anti-counterfeit measures exceeding $700 million.
Negative
Allegations of counterfeit products being sold on Amazon's platform could damage brand reputation.
The ongoing issue of counterfeit goods may lead to legal costs and increased scrutiny.
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Today, Amazon.com, Inc. (“Amazon”) (NASDAQ: AMZN), together with a subsidiary of Weber Inc. (NYSE:WEBR) (“Weber”), jointly filed a lawsuit against 12 defendants for selling products that illegally bear the WEBER® registered trademark in Amazon’s store. The defendants attempted to offer counterfeit versions of the global grill maker’s grill covers, violating Amazon’s policies, infringing on Weber’s registered trademarks, and breaking the law.
The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington and alleges that the defendants conspired to deceive customers about the authenticity and origin of their products and create a false affiliation with Weber. Amazon closed the defendants’ selling accounts and proactively refunded the impacted customers.
“If counterfeiters attempt to sell in our store, they don’t just break the law and violate the rights of companies like Weber, they mislead consumers,” said Kebharu Smith, Director of Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit. “In the rare instances when counterfeiters are able to bypass our enforcement tools and teams, we will find them and hold them fully accountable.”
Amazon strictly prohibits infringing and counterfeit products in its store, and in 2020, Amazon invested more than $700 million and employed more than 10,000 people to proactively protect its store from fraud, counterfeit, and abuse. Amazon uses industry-leading tools to verify potential sellers’ identities and ensure product listings are authentic, and Amazon’s proprietary systems analyze hundreds of unique data points to verify information provided by potential sellers. In 2020, only 6% of attempted new seller account registrations passed Amazon’s robust verification processes and listed products for sale. In addition, fewer than 0.01% of all products sold on Amazon received a counterfeit complaint from customers.
“Protecting consumers and our brand are top priorities for Weber,” said Phil Zadeik, General Counsel of Weber. “As the world’s leading company in outdoor cooking, we take tremendous pride in developing, manufacturing, and offering high-quality, durable, innovative products that meet or exceed our strict standards. And when that premise is jeopardized with counterfeit goods, we take action. We appreciate Amazon’s partnership and their commitment to only offering authentic Weber products to those that love to barbecue.”
The court filings are available here:
Case: 2:21-cv-01512, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
Amazon has an extensive history protecting brands and taking action to hold bad actors accountable:
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer‑Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.
About Weber Inc.
Weber Inc., headquartered in Palatine, IL, is the world’s leading barbecue brand. Weber’s founder George Stephen, Sr., established the outdoor cooking category when he invented the original charcoal grill nearly 70 years ago. Weber offers a comprehensive, innovative product portfolio, including charcoal, gas, pellet and electric grills, smokers, and accessories designed to help outdoor cooking enthusiasts discover what’s possible. Earlier this year, the company acquired June Life Inc., a smart appliance and technology company, to accelerate the development of its Weber Connect ® technology and digital products. Weber offers its barbecue grills and accessories, services, and experiences to a passionate community of millions across 78 countries.
Weber® and Weber Connect ® are registered trademarks of Weber-Stephen Products LLC
