⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit hears Chanel, Incorporated versus What Comes Around Goes Around. The defendant sells secondhand luxury goods under the name What Goes Around Comes Around. Chanel sued over its use of Chanel branding and the sale of Chanel-labeled bags, some carrying serial numbers stolen from an authorized factory. A jury found willful counterfeiting and awarded Chanel four million dollars in statutory damages, two million for each of two trademarks. Statutory damages need not match a proved loss from those particular sales. The reseller argues that the judge's counterfeit instruction left out a statutory exception tied to goods made by a manufacturer authorized to use the mark, and seeks a new trial. Chanel says the instruction and verdict should stand. The panel also probes the size of the award and a separate ruling on litigation costs.

Chanel, Inc. v. What Comes Around Goes Around LLC (No. 25-722) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, argued September 21, 2026.