Diesel files lawsuit vs cybersquatting websites

NEW YORK – Diesel has filed a legal action in US federal court in New York against 83 websites that are cybersquatting and selling counterfeit products appearing to carry the Diesel label.

The 83 identified websites have created the false impression that they are authorized to sell genuine Diesel goods by using the company’s trademark in the domain name.

These sites have sold thousands of replicas of the brand’s high-quality products that are counterfeit reproductions of Diesel’s trademarks.

“The unlawful use of Diesel trademarks to sell counterfeit goods through various retail websites around the world injures our customers who think they are buying a Diesel-quality product,” said Renzo Rosso, Diesel’s founder and president.

“In addition, these websites damage the brand’s reputation and goodwill, hindering the distinctiveness of authentic Diesel products’ trademark quality and craftsmanship,” Rosso added.

The lawsuit was filed in US District Court for the Southern District of New York by outside counsel from Arent Fox LLP last month.

According to Diesel, it is committed to fight cybersquatting as part of a global program to combat the business of counterfeit products. In 2013, Chinese customs officials confiscated over 70,000 counterfeit Diesel products exiting the country, while European customs withheld another 35,000 items and additional 15,000 in the first months of 2014.

In 2014, Diesel initiated an online brand protection program that has proven to be successful; more than 120 infringing sites have been taken down, with more than 1,000 sellers blocked and a total of 400,000 items removed.