David Beckham has initiated a 1.3 billion lawsuit to eliminate around 500 counterfeit merchandise sellers from his branded clothing and accessories line, seeking to reclaim profits generated illegally, predominantly in Asia.
Managing Beckham’s business interests, DB Ventures filed two lawsuits in the United States on Wednesday. These suits target counterfeiters distributing fake clothing, sunglasses, watches, perfumes, toys, soccer balls, video games, and other sports items. The sellers operate on major online platforms such as Etsy, Amazon, eBay, Temu, and Walmart.
In partnership with Authentic Brands Group, DB Ventures demands $2 million (£1.6 million) from the 492 defendants involved. These sellers are accused of maliciously misleading consumers.
Beckham’s team secured a £240 million judgment in the U.S. against numerous counterfeiters last month. In the current case, a temporary restraining order and an order to freeze the defendant’s assets were issued.
A spokesperson for the trial mentioned that Authentic Brands is determined to end the sale of counterfeit goods and uphold the integrity of Beckham’s product quality.
In another legal battle, Beckham recently filed a lawsuit against F45, a fitness company owned by actor Mark Wahlberg. He claims the company he partially owns failed to meet sponsorship obligations. The lawsuit demands $9.7 million, citing breaches of contract from agreements made in 2022.
Scheduled for January 2025, the hearing will address these breaches. Beckham had signed a five-year contract as a brand ambassador for F45, which included an annual payment of $1.5 million plus shares in the company following its 2021 public offering. However, Beckham’s lawsuit states that F45 did not provide the agreed financial compensation and stock shares.
