Louis Vuitton and Burberry awarded $2.5 million in a record-setting settlement, courtesy of Canadian fake-makers

Back in March, we wrote about a case that was brewing between luxury brands—Louis Vuitton and Burberry— and manufacturers/importers of counterfeit handbags Altec Productions (Toronto-based), Carnation Fashion Co. and Singga Enterprises Inc. On Monday, Justice James Russell’s gavel came crashing down on the fake-makers, ordering Altec to pay $1.3 million, Singga $780,000 and Carnation Fashion Company $390,000. The settlement totalled $2.5 million and is officially the largest amount owed from a case of its kind, with the former record holder being a Burnaby woman who paid out $1 million. We figure most trendy shoppers will now have to settle for a much-less-expensive-and-much-more-unattractive real Coach wristlet these days, lest they end up in the middle of the next, bigger case (or worse, a drunk tank equivalent for knock-off owners). Sorry, “frugalistas.”

• Firms fined $2.5 million for selling bogus goods [Vancouver Sun]