TAIPEI, (Reuters) - French luxury goods group Hermes has won a Taiwan record of $7.5 million in trademark infringement damages in a case against a former employee who sold knock-off handbags, the firm's law office said on Saturday.

The Taipei-area court gave the award in recent weeks after hearing the case of a former Hermes worker who had sold four fake Birkin bags, a coveted Hermes brand, earning T$512,500 ($15,150), the law firm Winkler Partners said.

"The award suggests the vigor with which the Intellectual Property Court will protect the intellectual property rights of foreign rights holders and an increased willingness to make significant awards of damages," the firm said in a statement.

The fake bags were sold in Taiwan, the law firm said. Real Birkin bags are worth at least $7,500 apiece.

Taiwan, once crawling with trademark violations, has cleaned up over the past five years to improve its business climate, cracking down on clothiers, pirated music and computer software.