L-Acoustics wins historic $5m counterfeit judgment
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Along with the seizure, L-Acoustics filed a complaint against Se7ven Sounds for trademark infringement, counterfeiting and unfair competition. This month, the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division ordered Se7ven Sounds Music to pay damages of $5m to L-Acoustics, a significant achievement in the professional audio industry. L-Acoustics also won the right to destroy the 136 counterfeit products confiscated during the investigation.
The final judgment holds that the "defendants infringed the L-Acoustics Trademarks by intentionally and willfully engaging in the unauthorized manufacturing, importation, offering for sale and/or rental, and sale and/or rental of goods in interstate commerce imitating the design of L-Acoustics products and bearing counterfeit L-Acoustics Trademarks."
For years, L-Acoustics has led the industry in the charge against counterfeiting. "Our customers and clients must have confidence in the L-Acoustics name and the integrity of our products and of our worldwide network of certified partners," says Laurent Ostojski, senior legal counsel at L-Acoustics. "We have zero tolerance for counterfeiting and this judgment makes it clear that not only manufacturing counterfeit equipment but also renting and selling fakes is illegal and punishable by law. It sends a strong message to service providers who profit by deceiving end-users and promoters by providing inferior and unsafe counterfeit equipment.”
This final judgment comes on the heels of a cease and seizure of counterfeit L-Acoustics loudspeakers in China in December 2022. In partnership with Chinese authorities, L-Acoustics tracked down five counterfeiters who were subsequently found guilty and sentenced to jail for producing and selling counterfeit L‑Acoustics loudspeakers in China. The counterfeit loudspeakers were destroyed.
The safety risks associated with counterfeit loudspeakers are not limited to suboptimal audio performance; fake products also expose operators and the public to hazardous safety risks and severe legal liabilities if an accident occurs. Counterfeit L-Acoustics loudspeakers do not provide the same performance, ruggedness, and safety of operation as their true counterparts. L-Acoustics offers free serial number verification to clients and will roll out an online version to certified providers by year’s end.
L-Acoustics’ anti-counterfeiting efforts for this case have been led by Dr. Laurent Ostojski, senior legal counsel at L-Acoustics and Milton Springut and J.T. Parker Murray of Moses & Singer LLP.
To help L-Acoustics fight counterfeiting, please report fake products by sending an email to: stopcounterfeits@l-acoustics.com
