Alibaba Sued Over Alleged Counterfeits

The owner of several of the world’s best-known luxury brands has filed a fresh lawsuit against Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., the latest challenge to the Chinese e-commerce giant’s assertions that it fights the sale of counterfeit goods on its platforms. The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in Manhattan by Gucci, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent and other brands owned by Paris-based Kering SA, indicates that the company is unsatisfied with Alibaba’s efforts to address the problem of counterfeiting of its brands. The suit alleges that Alibaba and its associated companies “knowingly encourage, assist and profit from the sale of counterfeits on their online platforms,” according to a copy of the filing reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.