Gucci exits anti counterfeiting group IACC after Alibaba joins

London - Luxury Italian fashion house Gucci has left the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC), a Washington DC based group after it opened its membership to “intermediaries” and allowed Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba to become a member last month.

Gucci notified the IACC of its intention and exit the group earlier this month, according to the Associated Press. The luxury brand follows in the footsteps of Michael Kors, who quit the anti-counterfeiting group in April after calling Alibaba it their “most dangerous and damaging adversary.”

Alibaba has raises numerous questions over the years concerning the effectiveness of its anti-counterfeiting policies. The Chinese e-commerce company is also currently being sued by Gucci parent company Kering Group for selling counterfeit goods of its luxury labels such as Saint Laurent and Balenciaga in the US. Kering has accused Alibaba of knowingly allowing the counterfeit sales to occur and profiting from them, although the e-commerce company has dismissed the case “wasteful litigation.”

The IACC has defended its decision to allow Alibaba to join the group, noting its membership falls under special terms, which ensures the company does not hold any leadership positions or voting rights. “The IACC stands by its collaborative approach and is committed to lean into the future and lead a coalition of the willing. The problem of counterfeiting is too pervasive and complex for any single company or industry to combat on its own,” wrote the company in a statement online.

“Our General Member category was created in recognition of the integral role that intermediaries play as part of the solution and in eBay's and others' interest in joining. Alibaba’s application for membership was unanimously approved by the IACC’s Board of Directors based on their demonstrated commitment and concrete results through the IACC MarketSafe program.”

“Other intermediary companies have joined the IACC, and the decision to allow them membership is just one aspect of our broader, more holistic approach to fighting counterfeiting. By bringing intermediaries to the fold, we are offering our current membership a new way to work with these entities directly while coordinating a collective effort to develop solutions to global counterfeiting and piracy.”

Photos: Gucci, Facebook