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Shipspotters all over the world => Shipping News and information => Topic started by: David Harrison on May 17, 2010, 08:54:54 PM

Title: Park West Galleries
Post by: David Harrison on May 17, 2010, 08:54:54 PM
Park West have been found guilty for selling worthless art for thousands of dollars aboard cruiseships.

In a Michigan court, the jury ruled unanimously in favour of the Fine Art Registry in a lawsuit brought against them by Park West Galleries.

The Fine Art Registry (FAR) had accused Park West of supplying the onboard art auctions with fake Salvador Dali prints to be auctioned off for thousands, when they were worth only a few pence.

The judge did not award any damages, but he did order Park West to pay Fine Art Registry $500,000 for trademark infringement saying Park West had illegally used FAR's trademark in sponsored links in search engines.

Park West was apparently trying to steer searchers away from the negative reports about the Gallery on the FAR web sites, including a special site devoted solely to Park West called SalvadorDaliFakes.com.

The website shows the whole history of a huge collection of supposed Dali Prints that Park West says it acquired and authenticated as true Salvador Dali artwork.

However, the Fine Art Registry's web site not only showed how the pieces in question were denounced as forgeries many times over, but it also showed the many ways in which the Park West had endeavored to circumvent the legal process by hiring their own experts and writing their own appraisals.

The conclusion drawn was that Park West cruise ship art auctions were fraudulent and sales were not handled according U.S. Statutes guidelines.

Thankfully my wife would not let me buy any pictures!!!