By Paul Pannone

Ugg boots was awarded $686 million in two separate judgments in federal court in Chicago against websites selling counterfeit products online. The company is among the latest to join the growing number of victories in the fight against online piracy of property and sale of knock-off products to American consumers.

These boots are not just made for walking anymore. Ask China.

Also this week Hermès won a $100 million judgment against dozens of Web sites selling knockoffs of its luxury handbags and other items, as companies, fed up with mounting losses, aggressively fight back with any legal means they can.

eWedNewz has learned of plans for similar suits from wedding companies to be filed in US courts later this year, after the legal path set by the current decisions.

Like other wins for True Religion, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren and the growing list of winners in court, none of the companies expect to recover any money but use the victory as a start in the ongoing battle to stop the piracy. Blatant disregard for the law on the part of suspects behind the piracy  fail to answer complaints, much less pay the awarded damages. They simply re-open websites and are back in business very quickly.

“In the good old days, you were nailed when you broke the law.  You paid the fine even if it put you out of business.  Today,  if they nail you for the crime (and that’s a big IF with years and millions invested in litigation) — if they nail you for the crime, you close shop and open under a different name tomorrow,” according to Jim Duhe of the Wedding Water Cooler.

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