In a complaint filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on 12 June 2025, it has been revealed that Audi AG has accused auto parts retailer CarParts.com of selling counterfeit Audi goods. Audi has branded the alleged infringement as a deliberate scheme to infringe its trade marks.
Audi has an extensive portfolio of registered trade marks both globally and specifically in the US, such as for the AUDI name and its four ring logo. Audi claims these marks are “distinctive and famous” and have become “prominently placed in the minds of the public”. These claims form the basis of its complaint, with Audi stating CarParts.com has exploited its reputation by selling Audi branded goods without permission through eBay and its various websites.
In the complaint, Audi requested an injunction, an account of profits, damages up to 2 million USD per counterfeit mark per type of good sold, the destruction of all infringing products and costs on the basis that the existence of the allegedly infringing goods cause significant harm to its brand. As well as trade mark infringement, Audi have alleged unfair competition via false designation of origin which, in the UK, is comparable to the tort of passing off.
The case follows a ruling by the CJEU last year where a Polish auto parts company was found to have infringed the Audi logo mark on the basis that the radiator grilles it was selling included a cutout designed to accommodate the Audi rings. It will be interesting to observe whether the US takes a similar approach.
If you have any questions on the above, please do not hesitate to contact the team at McDaniels Law on 0191 281 4000 or legal@mcdanielslaw.com.
