Cartier International has won nearly $1m in damages in a court case against a counterfeit watch operation in a New York court after the operation was found guilty of trademark infringement and distributing counterfeit goods

using around 15 websites.

According to court documents, members of the Menachem family were found to have imported, exported, distributed, advertised, offered for sale, and sold counterfeit watches bearing the trade marks of many leading manufacturers, including those belonging to A.Lange & Sohne, Cartier, Lanieres, Baignoire, Tortue, Tankissime, Panthere, Pasha de Cartier, 21 Chronoscaph, Santos de Cartier, Divan, Dunhill, Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-Lecoultre, IWC, Montblanc, Piaget, Luminor, and Panera.

The websites were located at: kingreplica.com, swisskingdom.com, vertexo.com, davidluxury.com, davidsluxury.com, replicakingdom.com, and watches-boutique.com and were operated by Ilan Ben-Menachem, Aviv Ben-Menachem, David Ben-Menachem and Chana Ben-Menachem.

The court heard that they had operated the websites and sold and distributed the counterfeit products from their home in Brooklyn, New York since May 2004.

In a summary judgement the court found the members of Menachem family guilty and liable for trademark counterfeiting and infringement in 19 instances. This means that they are Liable for Federal Unfair Competition and State and Common Law Claims.

In its conclusion, the court said: ‘Summary judgment against Defendants is granted for importing, distributing, advertising, selling, and offering for sale the Counterfeit Products, and permanently enjoining Defendants' counterfeiting and infringing activities as set forth in the Complaint, and awarding Plaintiffs statutory damages against Defendants in the amount of $950,000, as well as costs and attorneys' fees. Plaintiffs will submit judgment on notice, as well as a supporting affidavit with respect to attorneys' fees.’