Chanel, Inc. v. 21948352, an Individual, Business Entity, or Unincorporated Association
Filing
15
ORDER granting 14 Motion for Default Judgment. Signed by Judge David S. Leibowitz See attached document for full details. (dsf)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO. 0:24-cv-62446-LEIBOWITZ
CHANEL, INC.,
Plaintiff,
v.
21948352, an Individual, Business Entity, or
Unincorporated Association,
Defendant.
/
ORDER
THIS CAUSE comes before the Court on Plaintiff’s Motion for Entry of Default Final
Judgment against Defendant (the “Motion”) [Mot., ECF No. 14], filed on March 7, 2025.
By the instant Motion, Plaintiff, Chanel, Inc. (“Plaintiff”) seeks entry of a default final
judgment against Defendant, the Individual, Business Entity, or Unincorporated Association doing
business as the Store ID identified on Schedule “A” hereto (“Defendant”), which operates an Internet
based e-commerce store on the DHgate.com platform that infringes Plaintiff’s trademarks and
promotes and sells counterfeit goods bearing and/or using Plaintiff’s trademarks. [See generally Mot.].
Plaintiff requests the Court: (1) enjoin Defendant from producing or selling goods that infringe its
trademarks; (2) authorize Plaintiff to request any e-mail service provider permanently suspend the email addresses which are or have been used by Defendant in connection with Defendant’s promotion,
offering for sale, and/or sale of goods bearing and/or using counterfeits and/or infringements of
Plaintiff’s trademarks; (3) require Defendant to request in writing permanent termination of any Store
ID, usernames, and social media accounts it owns, operates, or controls on any e-commerce or social
media platform; (4) require the applicable administrator for the Store ID to disable and/or cease
facilitating access to the Store ID and any other alias e-commerce stores, usernames, store
identification numbers, seller identification names, social media accounts, and private messaging
accounts, being used and/or controlled by Defendant which has been used in connection with
marketing, offering to sell, and/or selling goods bearing and/or using counterfeits and infringements
of the Plaintiff’s Marks; (5) require the administrator for the Store ID to identify any e-mail addresses
known to be associated with Defendant’s Store ID; (6) require any marketplace administrator to
permanently remove any and all listings and associated images of goods bearing and/or using
counterfeits and/or infringements of Plaintiff’s trademarks via the e-commerce store operating under
the Store ID; (7) require Defendant and any marketplace administrator to immediately cease
fulfillment of and sequester all goods of Defendant bearing one or more of Plaintiff’s trademarks in
its inventory, possession, custody, or control, and surrender those goods to Plaintiff; and (8) award
statutory damages. [See generally id.].
A Clerk’s Default [ECF No. 13] was entered against Defendant on February 18, 2025, after
Defendant failed to respond to the Complaint [ECF No. 1], despite having been served. [See Aff. of
Service, ECF No. 11]. The Court has carefully considered the Motion, the record, and applicable law,
and finds default judgment against Defendant is proper.
I.
A.
BACKGROUND1
Factual Background
Plaintiff is the owner of the following trademarks, which are valid and registered on the Principal
Register of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the “Chanel Marks”):
The factual background is taken from Plaintiff’s Complaint [ECF No. 1], Plaintiff’s Motion
for Entry of Default Final Judgment against Defendant [Mot.], and supporting Declarations submitted
by Plaintiff.
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1
Trademark
CHANEL
Registration
Number
Registration Date
1,241,264
June 7, 1983
1,241,265
June 7, 1983
1,501,898
August 30, 1988
4,241,822
November 13, 2012
Classes/Goods
IC 025 - Suits, Jackets, Skirts,
Dresses, Pants, Blouses, Tunics,
Sweaters, Cardigans, Tee-Shirts,
Coats, Raincoats, Scarves, Shoes
and Boots
IC 025 - Suits, Jackets, Skirts,
Dresses, Pants, Blouses, Tunics,
Sweaters, Cardigans, Coats,
Raincoats, Scarves, Shoes and
Boots
IC 006 - Keychains
IC 014 - Costume Jewelry
IC 025 - Blouses, Shoes, Belts,
Scarves, Jackets, Men’s Ties
IC 026 - Brooches and Buttons for
Clothing
IC 025 - Clothing, namely, coats,
jackets, dresses, tops, blouses,
sweaters, cardigans, skirts, vests,
pants, jeans, belts, swim wear,
pareos, hats, scarves, ties, gloves,
footwear, hosiery
[See Decl. of Elizabeth Han in Supp. of the Pl.’s Mot. For Entry of Default Final Judgment against
Defendant (“Han Decl.”), ECF No. 14-1 ¶ 4; see also United States Trademark Registrations of the
Chanel Marks at issue attached as Composite Exhibit 1 to the Compl., ECF No. 1-2]. The Chanel
Marks are used in connection with the manufacture and distribution of high-quality goods in the
categories identified above. [See Han Decl. ¶¶ 4–5].
Defendant, through the Internet based e-commerce store operating on the DHgate.com
platform under the store identification number identified in Schedule “A” hereto (the “Store ID”),
has advertised, promoted, offered for sale, or sold goods bearing and/or using what Plaintiff has
determined to be counterfeits, infringements, reproductions or colorable imitations of the Chanel
Marks. [See id., ¶¶ 4–5, 9–11; Declaration of Stephen M. Gaffigan in Supp. of the Pl.’s Mot. For Entry
of Default Final Judgment against Defendant (“Gaffigan Decl.”), ECF No. 14-3 ¶ 2]. Although
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Defendant may not copy and infringe each Chanel Mark for each category of goods protected, Plaintiff
has submitted sufficient evidence showing that Defendant has infringed, at least, one or more of the
Chanel Marks. [See Han Decl. ¶¶ 4, 9–11]. Defendant is not now, nor has it ever been, authorized or
licensed to use, reproduce, or make counterfeits, reproductions, or colorable imitations of the Chanel
Marks. [See id. ¶¶ 9–11].
Defendant’s Internet based e-commerce store operating under the Store ID via the
DHgate.com platform, was accessed and observed to be advertising, offering for sale, and/or
promoting products bearing and/or using various counterfeits and confusingly similar imitations of
one or more of Plaintiff’s trademarks at issue in this action. [See Gaffigan Decl. ¶ 2]. Detailed web
pages and images captured and downloaded under the direct supervision of Plaintiff’s counsel’s firm,
of the products bearing and/or using the Chanel Marks were sent to Plaintiff’s representative for
inspection. [See Han Decl. ¶ 10; Gaffigan Decl. ¶ 2]. Plaintiff’s representative reviewed the web page
captures and images reflecting products bearing and/or using the Chanel Marks 2 and determined the
products were non-genuine, unauthorized versions of Plaintiff’s goods. [See Han Decl. ¶¶ 10–11].
B.
Procedural Background
On December 30, 2024, Plaintiff filed its Complaint [ECF No. 1] against Defendant for federal
trademark counterfeiting and infringement, false designation of origin, common law unfair
competition, and common law trademark infringement. On January 2, 2025, Plaintiff filed a Mot. for
Order Authorizing Alternate Service of Process on Defendant Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(f)(3) [ECF
No. 6], which the Court granted on January 5, 2025 [ECF No. 8]. In accordance with the January 5,
Defendant deliberately blurred-out and/or physically altered the images of the Chanel Marks
on the products being offered for sale via its e-commerce store. [See Han Decl. ¶ 10 n.1]. An image
of one of the products at issue bearing one or more of the Chanel Marks in their entirety is shown in
the customer reviews from a buyer who bought the product at issue from Defendant. [Id. at n.1]. A
true and correct copy of the image of the product bearing the Chanel Marks in their entirety is included
in Comp. Ex. 1 to the Decl. of Stephen M. Gaffigan in Supp. of Mot. for Alternate Service of Process
on Defendant. [Id.; ECF No. 6-2].
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2
2025, Order Authorizing Alternate Service, Plaintiff served Defendant with its Summons and a copy of
the Complaint via electronic mail and via website posting on January 6, 2025. [See Gaffigan Decl., ¶ 5;
see also Aff. of Service].
Defendant failed to file an answer or other response, and the time allowed for Defendant to
respond to the Complaint has expired. [See Gaffigan Decl., ¶¶ 6–7]. To Plaintiff’s knowledge, Defendant
is not an infant or incompetent person, and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act does not apply. [See id.
¶ 8]. On February 14, 2025, Plaintiff moved for a Clerk’s Entry of Default. [ECF No. 12]. A Clerk’s
Default was entered against Defendant on February 18, 2025 [ECF No. 13] for failure to appear, plead,
or otherwise defend pursuant to Rule 55(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff now moves
the Court to grant default final judgment against Defendant.
II.
LEGAL STANDARD
Pursuant to Rule 55(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court is authorized to
enter a final judgment of default against a party who has failed to respond to a complaint. See Fed. R.
Civ. P. 55(b)(2). The entry of default constitutes an admission by a defendant of the well-pleaded
allegations in the complaint. See Cancienne v. Drain Master of S. Fla., Inc., No. 08-61123-CIV, 2008 WL
5111264, at *1 (S.D. Fla. Dec. 3, 2008) (citing Cotton v. Mass. Mut. Life Ins. Co., 402 F.3d 1267, 1277-78
(11th Cir. 2005)). However, a defendant’s default “does not in itself warrant. . . entering a default
judgment.” Goldman v. HSBC Bank USA, Nat’l Ass’n, No. 13-81271-CIV, 2015 WL 1782241, at *1 (S.D.
Fla. Mar. 24, 2015) (alteration in original; internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Nishimatsu Constr.
Co. v. Houston Nat’l Bank, 515 F.2d 1200, 1206 (5th Cir. 1975)). Because a defendant is not held to admit
facts that are not well-pleaded or to admit conclusions of law, the Court must first determine whether
there is a sufficient basis in the pleading for judgment to be entered. See id.; see also Buchanan v. Bowman,
820 F.2d 359, 361 (11th Cir. 1987) (“[L]iability is well-pled in the complaint, and is therefore established
by the entry of default[.]”).
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Once a plaintiff has established a sufficient basis for liability, the Court must conduct an inquiry
to determine the appropriate damages. PetMed Express, Inc. v. MedPets.Com, Inc., 336 F. Supp. 2d 1213,
1217 (S.D. Fla. 2004). Although an evidentiary hearing is generally required, the Court need not conduct
such a hearing “when . . . additional evidence would be truly unnecessary to a fully informed
determination of damages.” Safari Programs, Inc. v. CollectA Int’l Ltd., 686 F. App’x 737, 746 (11th Cir.
2017) (quoting SEC v. Smyth, 420 F.3d 1225, 1232 n.13 (11th Cir. 2005)). Therefore, where the record
adequately supports the award of damages, an evidentiary hearing is not required. See Smyth, 420 F.3d at
1232 n.13; PetMed, 336 F. Supp. 2d 1213 at 1217 (finding an evidentiary hearing unnecessary because
plaintiff was seeking statutory damages under the Lanham Act).
III.
A.
DISCUSSION
Claims
Plaintiff seeks default judgment against Defendant on the claims asserted in the Complaint:
(1) trademark counterfeiting and infringement under section 32 of the Lanham Act, in violation of 15
U.S.C. section 1114 (Count I); (2) false designation of origin under section 43(a) of the Lanham Act,
in violation of 15 U.S.C. section 1125(a) (Count II); (3) unfair competition under Florida common law
(Count III); and (4) trademark infringement under Florida common law (Count IV). [See Compl. ¶¶
36–61].
1.
Counterfeiting and Infringement
Section 32 of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. section 1114, provides liability for trademark
infringement if, without the consent of the registrant, a defendant uses “in commerce any
reproduction, counterfeit, copy, or colorable imitation of a registered mark . . . which . . . is likely to
cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive.” 15 U.S.C. § 1114 (1)(a). To prevail on a trademark
infringement claim, a plaintiff must demonstrate “(1) that it had prior rights to the mark at issue and
(2) that the defendant had adopted a mark or name that was the same, or confusingly similar to its
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mark, such that consumers were likely to confuse the two.” Planetary Motion, Inc. v. Techsplosion, Inc.,
261 F.3d 1188, 1193 (11th Cir. 2001) (footnote call number and citation omitted).
2.
False Designation of Origin
The test for liability for false designation of origin under 15 U.S.C. section 1125(a) is the same
as for a trademark counterfeiting and infringement claim – i.e., whether the public is likely to be
deceived or confused by the similarity of the marks at issue. See Two Pesos, Inc. v. Taco Cabana, Inc., 505
U.S. 763, 780 (1992) (Stevens, J., concurring).
3.
Common-Law Unfair Competition
Whether a defendant’s use of a plaintiff’s trademarks created a likelihood of confusion
between the plaintiff’s and the defendant’s products is also the determining factor in the analysis of
unfair competition under the common law of Florida. S e e Rolex Watch U.S.A., Inc. v. Forrester, No.
83-8381-Civ, 1986 WL 15668, at *3 (S.D. Fla. Dec. 9, 1986) (“The appropriate test for determining
whether there is a likelihood of confusion, and thus trademark infringement, false designation of
origin, and unfair competition under the common law of Florida, is set forth in John H. Harland, Inc.
v. Clarke Checks, Inc., 711 F.2d 966, 972 (11th Cir. 1983).”).
4.
Common-Law Trademark Infringement
The analysis of liability for Florida common law trademark infringement is the same as the
analysis of liability for trademark infringement under section 32(a) of the Lanham Act. See PetMed,
336 F. Supp. 2d at 1217–18.
B.
Liability
The well-pleaded factual allegations of Plaintiff’s Complaint properly contain the elements for
each of the above claims. [See generally Compl.]. Plaintiff establishes it had prior rights to the marks at
issue. [See Compl. ¶¶ 13–15]. Plaintiff also alleges Defendant “is actively using, promoting and
otherwise advertising, distributing, selling, and/or offering for sale substantial quantities of its
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Counterfeit Goods with the knowledge and intent that such goods will be mistaken for the genuine
high-quality goods offered for sale by Chanel[.]” [Id. ¶ 23 (alteration added)]. Further, Plaintiff alleges
“Defendant’s . . . infringing activities are likely to cause confusion, deception, and mistake in the minds
of consumers[.]” [Id. ¶ 30 (alterations added)].
Because the allegations in the Complaint are deemed admitted by virtue of Defendant’s failure
to answer or respond, default judgment under Rule 55 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is
appropriately entered against it.
C.
Relief
Plaintiff requests an award of equitable relief and monetary damages against Defendant for
trademark infringement in Count I. The Court analyzes Plaintiff’s request for relief as to Count I only,
as judgment for Count II, III, and IV—false designation of origin, common law unfair competition, and
common law trademark infringement—is limited to entry of the requested equitable relief under Count
I. [See generally Mot.].
Injunctive Relief. Under the Lanham Act, a district court is authorized to issue an injunction
“according to the principles of equity and upon such terms as the court may deem reasonable,” to
prevent violations of trademark law. 15 U.S.C. § 1116(a). Indeed, “[i]njunctive relief is the remedy of
choice for trademark and unfair competition cases, since there is no adequate remedy at law for the
injury caused by a defendant’s continuing infringement.” Burger King Corp. v. Agad, 911 F. Supp. 1499,
1509–10 (S.D. Fla. 1995) (alteration in original; quotation marks omitted; quoting Century 21 Real Estate
Corp. v. Sandlin, 846 F.2d 1175, 1180 (9th Cir. 1988)). Injunctive relief is available even in the default
judgment setting, see, e.g., PetMed, 336 F. Supp. 2d at 1222–23, since defendant’s failure to respond or
otherwise appear makes it difficult for a plaintiff to prevent further infringement absent an injunction.
See Jackson v. Sturkie, 255 F. Supp. 2d 1096, 1103 (N.D. Cal. 2003) (“[D]efendant’s lack of
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participation in this litigation has given the court no assurance that defendant’s infringing activity will
cease. Therefore, plaintiff is entitled to permanent injunctive relief.”) (alteration added)).
Permanent injunctive relief is appropriate when a plaintiff demonstrates: (1) it has suffered
irreparable injury; (2) there is no adequate remedy at law; (3) the balance of hardship favors an
equitable remedy; and (4) an issuance of an injunction is in the public’s interest. See eBay, Inc. v.
MercExchange, LLC, 547 U.S. 388, 391 (2006) (citations omitted). Plaintiff has carried its burden
on each of the four factors.
Specifically, “a sufficiently strong showing of likelihood of confusion [caused by trademark
infringement] may by itself constitute a showing of . . . a substantial threat of irreparable harm.” E.
Remy Martin & Co., S.A. v. Shaw-Ross Int’l Imps., Inc., 756 F.2d 1525, 1530 (11th Cir. 1985) (alterations
added; footnote call number omitted); see also Levi Strauss & Co. v. Sunrise Int’l Trading Inc., 51 F.3d 982,
986 (11th Cir. 1995) (“There is no doubt that the continued sale of thousands of pairs of counterfeit
jeans would damage [the plaintiff’s] business reputation and decrease its legitimate sales.” (alteration
added)). Plaintiff’s Complaint and the submissions show the goods promoted, advertised, offered for
sale, and sold by Defendant is nearly identical to Plaintiff’s genuine products and that consumers
viewing Defendant’s counterfeit goods post-sale would confuse them for Plaintiff’s genuine products.
[See, e.g., Compl. ¶ 23 (“Defendant’s actions are likely to cause confusion of consumers at the time of
initial interest, sale, and in the post-sale setting, who will believe all of Defendant’s goods offered for
sale in or through Defendant’s e-commerce store are genuine goods originating from, associated with,
and/or approved by Chanel.”)].
Plaintiff has no adequate remedy at law so long as Defendant continues to operate the
Store ID because Plaintiff cannot control the quality of what appears to be its products in the
marketplace. An award of monetary damages alone will not cure the injury to Plaintiff’s reputation
and goodwill if Defendant’s infringing and counterfeiting actions can continue. Moreover, Plaintiff
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faces hardship from loss of sales and its inability to control its reputation in the marketplace. By
contrast, Defendant faces no hardship if it is prohibited from the infringement of Plaintiff’s
trademarks. Finally, the public interest supports the issuance of a permanent injunction against
Defendant to prevent consumers from being misled by Defendant’s products, and potentially harmed
by its inferior quality. See Chanel, Inc. v. besumart.com, 240 F. Supp. 3d 1283, 1291 (S.D. Fla. 2016) (“[A]n
injunction to enjoin infringing behavior serves the public interest in protecting consumers from such
behavior.” (alteration added; citation omitted)); see also World Wrestling Ent., Inc. v. Thomas, No. 12-cv21018, 2012 WL 12874190, at *8 (S.D. Fla. Apr. 11, 2012) (considering the potential for harm based
on exposure to potentially hazardous counterfeit merchandise in analyzing public’s interest in an
injunction). The Court’s broad equity powers allow it to fashion injunctive relief necessary to stop
Defendant’s infringing activities. See, e.g., Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Bd. of Educ., 402 U.S. 1, 15
(1971) (“Once a right and a violation have been shown, the scope of a district court’s equitable powers
to remedy past wrongs is broad, for . . . [t]he essence of equity jurisdiction has been the power of the
Chancellor to do equity and to mould [sic] each decree to the necessities of the particular case.”
(citation and internal quotation marks omitted)); United States v. Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., 321 U.S.
707, 724 (1944) (“Equity has power to eradicate the evils of a condemned scheme by prohibition of
the use of admittedly valid parts of an invalid whole.”).
Defendant has created an Internet-based counterfeiting scheme in which it is profiting from
its deliberate misappropriation of Plaintiff’s rights. Accordingly, the Court may fashion injunctive
relief to eliminate the means by which Defendant is conducting its unlawful activities by authorizing
Plaintiff to request any e-mail service provider permanently suspend the e-mail addresses which are
or have been used by Defendant in connection with Defendant’s promotion, offering for sale, and/or
sale of goods bearing and/or using counterfeits and/or infringements of Plaintiff’s trademarks,
requiring Defendant request in writing permanent termination of any Store ID, usernames, and social
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media accounts it owns, operates, or controls on any e-commerce or social media platform, requiring
the applicable administrator for the Store ID disable and/or cease facilitating access to the Store ID
and any other alias e-commerce stores, usernames, store identification numbers, seller identification
names, social media accounts, and private messaging accounts, being used and/or controlled by
Defendant which has been used in connection with marketing, offering to sell, and/or selling goods
bearing and/or using counterfeits and infringements of the Plaintiff’s Marks, requiring the
administrator for the Store ID identify any e-mail addresses known to be associated with Defendant’s
Store ID, requiring any marketplace administrator permanently remove any and all listings and
associated images of goods bearing and/or using counterfeits and/or infringements of Plaintiff’s
trademarks via the e-commerce stores operating under the Store ID, and requiring Defendant and any
marketplace administrator to immediately cease fulfillment of and sequester all goods of Defendant
bearing one or more of Plaintiff’s trademarks in its inventory, possession, custody, or control, and
surrender those goods to Plaintiff, such that these means may no longer be used as instrumentalities
to further the sale of counterfeit goods.
Statutory Damages. In a case involving the use of counterfeit marks in connection with the sale,
offering for sale, or distribution of goods, 15 U.S.C. section 1117(c) provides that a plaintiff may elect
an award of statutory damages at any time before final judgment is rendered in the sum of not less
than $1,000.00 nor more than $200,000.00 per counterfeit mark per type of good. See 15 U.S.C. §
1117(c)(1). In addition, if the Court finds Defendant’s counterfeiting actions were willful, it may
impose damages above the maximum limit up to $2,000,000.00 per counterfeit mark per type of good.
See 15 U.S.C. § 1117(c)(2).
The Court has wide discretion to determine the amount of statutory damages. See PetMed, 336
F. Supp. 2d at 1219 (citations omitted). An award of statutory damages is appropriate despite a
plaintiff’s inability to prove actual damages caused by a defendant’s infringement. See Under Armour,
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Inc. v. 51nfljersey.com, No. 13-62809-CIV, 2014 WL 1652044, at *7 (S.D. Fla. Apr. 23, 2014) (citing Ford
Motor Co. v. Cross, 441 F. Supp. 2d 837, 852 (E.D. Mich. 2006) (“[A] successful plaintiff in a trademark
infringement case is entitled to recover enhanced statutory damages even where its actual damages are
nominal or non-existent.”) (alteration added; citations omitted)); Playboy Enters., Inc. v. Universal Tel-ATalk, Inc., No. 96-6961-Civ, 1998 WL 767440, at *8 (E.D. Pa. Nov. 3, 1998) (awarding statutory
damages where plaintiff failed to prove actual damages or profits). The option of a statutory damages
remedy in trademark counterfeiting cases is sensible given evidence of a defendant’s profits in such
cases is frequently almost impossible to ascertain. See, e.g., S. Rep. No. 104-177, pt. V § 7, at 10 (1995)
(discussing purposes of Lanham Act statutory damages); PetMed, 336 F. Supp. 2d at 1220 (recognizing
that statutory damages are “[e]specially appropriate in default judgment cases due to infringer
nondisclosure” (alteration added; citations omitted)).
This case is no exception. The allegations of the Complaint and the evidence establish
Defendant intentionally copied one or more of the Chanel Marks for the purpose of deriving the
benefit of Plaintiff’s well-known reputation. Defendant has defaulted on Plaintiff’s allegations of
willfulness. [See Compl. ¶ 29; see also Han Decl. ¶ 10, n.1]; see also Arista Records, Inc. v. Beker Enters.,
Inc., 298 F. Supp. 2d 1310, 1313 (S.D. Fla. 2003) (concluding that a court may infer willfulness from
the defendants’ default); PetMed, 336 F. Supp. 2d at 1217 (stating that upon default, well-pleaded
allegations are taken as true). As such, the Lanham Act permits the Court to award up to $2,000,000.00
per infringing mark on each type of good as statutory damages to ensure Defendant does not continue
its intentional and willful counterfeiting activities.
The only available evidence demonstrates Defendant promoted, distributed, advertised,
offered for sale, and/or sold at least one type of good bearing marks which were counterfeits of at
least two of the Chanel Marks protected by federal trademark registrations. [See Compl. ¶¶ 13, 22–25,
38; Han Decl. ¶¶ 4–5, 9–11, 18; see also Han Decl. Ex. 1, Statutory Damages Calculation Chart, ECF No.
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14-2]. Based on the above considerations, Plaintiff suggests the Court award statutory damages by
starting with a baseline of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00), trebled to reflect Defendant’s
willfulness, and doubled for the purpose of deterrence, resulting in one hundred eighty thousand
dollars ($180,000.00) per trademark counterfeited per type of good offered for sale and/or sold by
Defendant. [See Mot. at 16–18; Han Decl. ¶¶ 18–19; Statutory Damages Calculation Chart].
The award should be sufficient to deter Defendant and others from continuing to counterfeit
or otherwise infringe Plaintiff’s trademarks, compensate Plaintiff, and punish Defendant, all stated
goals of 15 U.S.C. section 1117(c). The Court finds this award of statutory damages falls within the
permissible range under 15 U.S.C. section 1117(c) and is just. See Chanel, Inc. v. Individuals, Bus. Entities,
& Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule "A", No. 0:24-CV-61002, 2024 WL 4450143 (S.D. Fla.
Oct. 9, 2024) (entry of statutory damages award using a baseline of $30,000.00, trebled to reflect
willfulness and doubled for the purpose of deterrence, resulting in $180,000.00 per trademark
counterfeited per type of good offered for sale and/or sold); Fanatics, LLC v. Fanaticcheaps.com, No.
0:24-CV-60656, 2024 WL 4345842 (S.D. Fla. Sept. 30, 2024) (entry of statutory damages award using
a baseline of $30,000.00, trebled to reflect willfulness and doubled for the purpose of deterrence,
resulting in $180,000.00 per trademark counterfeited per type of good offered for sale and/or sold);
Chanel, Inc. v. Individuals, Bus. Entities, & Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule "A", No. 0:24CV-60435, 2024 WL 4039855 (S.D. Fla. Sept. 4, 2024) (entry of statutory damages award using a
baseline of $30,000.00, trebled to reflect willfulness and doubled for the purpose of deterrence,
resulting in $180,000.00 per trademark counterfeited per type of good offered for sale and/or sold);
see also Chanel, Inc. v. Individuals, No. 24-cv-22336-BLOOM/Elfenbein, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 145638
(S.D. Fla. Aug. 15, 2024) (entry of statutory damages award using a baseline of $30,000.00, trebled to
reflect willfulness and doubled for the purpose of deterrence, resulting in $180,000.00 per trademark
counterfeited per type of good offered for sale and/or sold).
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IV.
CONCLUSION
For the forgoing reasons, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Plaintiff’s Motion for
Entry of Default Final Judgment [ECF No. 14] is GRANTED. Default final judgment and a
permanent injunction shall be entered by separate order.
DONE AND ORDERED in the Southern District of Florida on March 7, 2025.
cc:
counsel of record
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SCHEDULE “A”
DEFENDANT DHGATE.COM STORE ID AND
INFRINGING PRODUCT NUMBER
Defendant /
Store ID
21948352
Infringing Product
Number
938246490
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