If it seems these merch lawsuits are becoming more frequent, it’s not just your imagination. That makes merch a big business for artists, and by one estimate, counterfeit merch costs artists $20,000 to $50,000 for every $1 million in legitimate sales. Notable counterfeit merchandise lawsuits in recent yearsPlease note this is not a complete list of counterfeit merch lawsuits in recent years, just some highlights to illustrate how common these lawsuits have become. Some merch lawsuits, including those filed by merch divisions of major record companies, often fly under the radar. As with the Ceremony of Roses lawsuits, Merch Traffic is asking for the ability to seize the goods being sold.