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David Goggins and two associated companies sued Amazon in February 2024, alleging that counterfeit copies of his books were being sold through its marketplace. On September 30, 2025, a federal judge ordered the dispute into arbitration and stayed the court case. That ruling did not determine whether any books were counterfeit or whether Amazon infringed anyone’s rights.
What did Goggins allege?
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, named Can’t Hurt Me and Never Finished. In its summary of the operative complaint, the court described plaintiffs’ allegation that Amazon “commingles” legitimate products with inferior counterfeits. Plaintiffs said some copies had askew images and substandard paper, making it difficult for buyers to distinguish authentic books from third-party knockoffs. They also alleged reputational harm and violations of Amazon’s public promises against counterfeit sales. These were allegations, not findings. The court’s September 30, 2025 order summarizes the claims.
GeekWire reported on February 26, 2024, that the complaint described hundreds of messages from Goggins and representatives asking Amazon to stop third-party sellers from offering alleged counterfeits. The report also said Goggins had raised the issue publicly in October 2023 and that the complaint described an incident involving 125 books alleged to be bootlegs. Those details are reported claims, not judicially verified findings. GeekWire’s report recounts the allegations.
What happened to the lawsuit?
On September 30, 2025, Judge Jamal N. Whitehead granted Amazon’s motion to compel arbitration and stayed the court action while arbitration proceeds. The court concluded that the parties were bound by arbitration agreements and that the agreements delegated questions about the scope of arbitration to the arbitrator. The order addressed the forum for resolving the dispute; it did not decide the truth of the counterfeit allegations or the merits of the legal claims.
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The case record says Goggins used Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing for digital books and Amazon Advantage for hardcopies. Amazon relied on arbitration provisions in those agreements. The court administratively terminated Amazon’s motion to dismiss after compelling arbitration. The claims listed in the court’s summary included copyright and trademark infringement, false advertising and false designation of origin, Washington personality-rights and consumer-protection claims, and common-law claims. The court order explains the procedural ruling and the claims before it.
The accessible Justia docket summary says its docket report was last retrieved September 30, 2025, and notes that a newer listing may be available through PACER. It therefore does not establish whether arbitration has since concluded or whether there have been later court proceedings. The latest status cannot be confirmed from that docket snapshot.
Were the books proven to be counterfeit?
No. The September 2025 order did not decide whether counterfeit copies were sold, whether Amazon was liable, or whether any infringement occurred. It sent the dispute to arbitration under the agreements the court found binding. The complaint’s descriptions of print defects and marketplace practices should therefore be reported as plaintiffs’ allegations, not as established facts.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How can a reader assess a copy?
The lawsuit points to issues a buyer might examine, but it does not supply a definitive authentication test or identify any currently authorized marketplace seller. A misaligned image or paper-quality concern may warrant scrutiny, but the court record does not establish that either feature alone proves a book is counterfeit.
Quick Recap
- Check provenance: Review who is selling the copy and whether the seller or edition can be verified through a reliable, authorized source.
- Inspect the edition and print: Compare the edition details and production quality with a known legitimate copy where possible. The defects described in the complaint are allegations, not a complete diagnostic checklist.
- Do not treat a listing as proof: The sources available do not verify the authorization of any current Amazon listing. A specific seller or copy should not be labeled counterfeit without separate evidence.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
