Online Marketplaces Sued by Saree store

Indian Saree boutique Shree Meena Creations has sued online retailers such as Flipkart, Amazon, eBay accusing them of selling replicas of its copyrighted sarees.

Shree Meena, a nationwide distributor of sarees and other Indian ethnic wears, says its Joh Rivaaj-branded sarees are priced between 3,600 and 4 lakh but their copies are available online for as low as 1,200 to 2,700. The company’s sarees are retailed by top southern retailers including Chennai-based Pothys and Kumaran Silks, RS Brothers in Hyderabad as well as many dealers in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk area.

“We are seeking damages from those e-commerce companies and want them to stop selling our copyrighted products,” said a lawyer representing Shree Meena. “Many of the e-commerce sites are giving platforms for duplicate sarees.” The lawyer, who didn’t want to be named, said the company has copyright on the designs since they are creative work. He didn’t specify the damages it is seeking.

Flipkart, Amazon and eBay said they enforce strict guidelines on sellers on their platforms and take action against anyone who violates them. A spokesperson for Flipkart said it is merely a marketplace platform to connect sellers and consumers, and doesn’t sell anything on its own, an argument that an eBay spokesperson also reiterated.

Amazon India said sellers were mandated to sell only genuine and original products on its platform, and that it would bring any item that violates the rules down from the website. “In case of repeated offenders we do not hesitate to take strict action and may even go to the extent of de-listing them from our marketplace,” its spokesperson added.

– Photo courtesy Shree Meena Creations.