No damages awarded for shipment of fake watches made in error

Following the seizure by Customs of a shipment of 750 counterfeit Rolex 'Oyster Perpetual Date' watches, Rolex brought an action against the designated recipient of the shipment, seeking a permanent injunction and damages for trademark infringement, passing off, injury to goodwill and unjust enrichment.

 

The importer claimed that:

The court pointed out that the importer did not dispute that the shipment contained counterfeit goods that infringed Rolex's trademarks. Confirming that the burden of proof rested on the importer, the court held that the latter had discharged its burden of proof by providing an affidavit made by the manager of the Chinese supplier, in which it was stated that the importer had ordered unbranded goods and that the shipment had been made in error. The court thus rejected Rolex's claim for damages.

 

This finding seems to contradict an earlier case in which the court had reached a similar decision despite the fact that no affidavit had been submitted. In the present case, the court's decision was unaffected by the parties' dispute as to the authenticity of an email in which the Chinese supplier acknowledged its error (which was presented as evidence by the importer, but was not supported by the affidavit).

 

The court nevertheless enjoined the importer from using Rolex's trademarks without the latter's consent.