Cracking Down on Fakes

Published: Friday, December 01, 2006
Cracking Down on Fakes: Luxury Firms File Suits Against Chinatown Landlord
By Liza Casabona

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.

I think that these designers pressing charges against this man is a very good thing. I feel that what these conartists are doing isn't fair to the designers at all. These designers spent a lot of time and effort in creating these designs. It's not fair to them that these men that just want to make a quick buck are coming along and stealing these designers ideas and creations. They are robbing designers of their creativity and I think that this action is long overdue.
-Gwen Rutkowski