Benzinga | Jun 10, 2021 09:12AM EDT

Amazon, HanesBrands File 13 Suits Against 17 Defendants For Selling Silcone Protective Earbud Case Covers That Illegally Bear HanesBrands' Registered Champion Trademark

Today, Amazon.com, Inc. ("Amazon") (NASDAQ:AMZN), together with HanesBrands, Inc. and HBI Branded Apparel Enterprises, LLC (collectively, "HanesBrands") jointly filed 13 lawsuits against 17 defendants for selling silicone protective earbud case covers that illegally bear HanesBrands' registered Champion trademarks. The defendants attempted to offer the infringing products in Amazon's store, violating Amazon's policies, infringing on HanesBrands' registered Champion trademarks, and breaking the law.

The lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. They allege that the defendants used HanesBrands' registered Champion trademarks without authorization to deceive customers about the authenticity and origin of the products and to create a false affiliation with HanesBrands. Amazon closed the defendants' selling accounts.

"The vast majority of Amazon customers shop with the confidence knowing they will receive an authentic product," said Dharmesh Mehta, vice president of Customer Trust and Partner Support at Amazon. "In the rare instances when bad actors attempt to take advantage of customers and companies like HanesBrands, our team is relentless about tracking down and holding them accountable."

Amazon strictly prohibits infringing and counterfeit products in its store, and has invested more than $700 million and employed more than 10,000 people to proactively protect its store from bad actors and bad products. Amazon uses industry-leading tools to verify potential sellers' identities, and Amazon's proprietary systems analyze hundreds of unique data points to verify information provided by potential sellers. In 2020, only 6% of attempted new seller account registrations passed its robust verifications process and listed products. As a result, fewer than 0.01% of all products sold on Amazon received a counterfeit complaint from customers. Those complaints were then investigated for accuracy.

"We will aggressively defend our brands and our intellectual property around the world," said Jon Ram, president of Global Activewear at HanesBrands. "We look forward to prevailing in these lawsuits."

In June 2020, Amazon launched its Counterfeit Crimes Unit, a global team dedicated to pursuing bad actors and holding them accountable to the fullest extent of the law, including by working with law enforcement. Amazon has filed a series of lawsuits against counterfeiters, including a suit against individuals using social media to promote and facilitate the sale of counterfeits, as well as joint lawsuits with Italian luxury brands Valentino and Ferragamo, cosmetics brand KF Beauty, family travel accessory brand JL Childress, cooler manufacturer YETI, and family-owned-and-operated card game company Dutch Blitz.

HanesBrands, the owner of the iconic Champion brand, is a socially responsible leading manufacturer of everyday casual wear in the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Asia-Pacific. For nearly 100 years, the Champion brand has been synonymous with high-quality uniforms and apparel for amateur and professional athletes, as well as popular styles of sportswear and leisurewear for kids and adults. Champion apparel has been worn by millions of everyday people, celebrities, and athletes, and the Champion brand has become one of the most recognized sportswear brands in history.

The court filings are available here:

* Case: 2:21-cv-00766, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

* Case: 2:21-cv-00767, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

* Case: 2:21-cv-00768, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

* Case: 2:21-cv-00769, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

* Case: 2:21-cv-00770, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

* Case: 2:21-cv-00771, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

* Case: 2:21-cv-00772, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

* Case: 2:21-cv-00773, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

* Case: 2:21-cv-00774, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

* Case: 2:21-cv-00775, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

* Case: 2:21-cv-00776, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

* Case: 2:21-cv-00777, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

* Case: 2:21-cv-00778, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

Amazon has an extensive history protecting brands and taking action to hold bad actors accountable:

* Amazon Published Comprehensive Brand Protection Report Demonstrating Progress Toward Driving Counterfeits to Zero

* Amazon Establishes Counterfeit Crimes Unit to Bring Counterfeits to Justice

* Amazon Launches IP Accelerator in Europe to Help Small Businesses Protect Their Brands and Tackle Counterfeit

* IPR Center, Amazon Launch 'Operation Fulfilled Action' to Stop Counterfeiters

* Amazon Files Lawsuit Against Counterfeiters Using Social Media to Promote Sales

* Amazon Supports Resolution of 3M Case Against Fraudsters

* Amazon Supports Investigation, Prosecution of New York Defendants Charged in Fraud Scheme

* Amazon and KF Beauty File Joint Lawsuit Against Counterfeiters

* Amazon and Valentino File Joint Lawsuit Against New York-Based Counterfeit

* Amazon and YETI File Joint Lawsuit against Counterfeiters

* Amazon and Dutch Blitz File Joint Lawsuit against Counterfeiters

* Amazon and Salvatore Ferragamo File Two Joint Lawsuits Against Counterfeiters