Amazon Sues Sellers Over Counterfeit Items

Amazon.com is striking back. For the first time in the e-tailer's 20-plus year history, Amazon is suing merchants that are selling counterfeit items. Fortune reports the Seattle-based company filed two lawsuits in Washington on Monday, both accusing merchants on its marketplace of selling copies of products and claiming that they're legitimate. Amazon's marketplace has been the center of conversation since CNBC reported earlier this year that counterfeit items were being sold by third-party sellers.

Total Retail's Take: Sounds like Amazon is taking the next step in its fight against counterfeit sellers. In August, after Birkenstock announced it would no longer be selling items on Amazon due to third parties selling counterfeit copies of its products, Amazon started imposing larger sellers fees and additional paperwork to vet sellers. However, the process, which was announced as a surprise to most, had a few details to be worked out. As of now, penalties ranging from $1,000 to $1,500 have been handed out to those selling counterfeit items.