Jul 16, 2008 -- eBay facing $61 million judgment over bogus goods
eBay is currently facing lawsuits all over the globe for their role as an enabler for people selling counterfeit goods. Clark has long believed that eBay has a responsibility to guarantee that the merchandise on their site is the real deal. The company has seen a decline in growth, and Clark believes the question of their credibility may be part of the slowdown.
A French court now has hit eBay with a $61 million judgment. The court believes that bogus merchandise on the site -- much of it purporting to be from high-fashion labels -- affects the reputation of companies like Fendi, Louis Vuitton and others.
Meanwhile, Clark has a marketplace solution that he's long believed in. He feels eBay should require sellers to say "famous brand" instead of listing the actual brand name, or require sellers to have their wares independently verified as real before putting them up for sale. Legit sellers could then command higher prices.