Amazon and Yeti file suit over counterfeit product sales News
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Amazon and Yeti file suit over counterfeit product sales

Amazon and Yeti filed suit Thursday against Michael and Karen White, accusing them of selling counterfeit Yeti products on Amazon.com. The suit alleges that the two caused harm to the companies’ customers and the intellectual property rights owned by Yeti over its Rambler products.

The suit claims that the Whites began selling counterfeit products in February and continued until September, despite receiving multiple cease and desist notices. Amazon has built its brand around ensuring that its consumers receive the products they order and that those products are legitimate. When the Whites signed up to sell their products on Amazon, they agreed not to sell counterfeit goods and also agreed that if their products were found to be counterfeits, Amazon reserved the right to cancel pending sales and to destroy the counterfeit products. Their selling accounts were canceled once it was confirmed with Yeti that the products were counterfeit.

Yeti is bringing a trademark infringement claim, a false designation of origin claim and an unlawful importation of goods bearing a fraudulent mark claim. Amazon is bringing a false designation of origin claim, as well as a claim that the defendants violated the Washington Consumer Protection Act.

The companies seek immediate injunctive relief to prevent the defendants from selling their products. In addition, they seek damages for the products that have already been sold and ask that the remaining products be turned over so they may be destroyed.