damage

But earlier this year a company operating out of China pretending to be a Birmingham-based jewellers began using the C'est la vie name, damaging the reputation of Ms Newman's business.

The drone will do the rest, he says, finding the target, dropping explosives, assessing the damage and then returning to base.

“Because these are public entities, they’re not going to be liable for punitive damages.”

The more long-term damage may be to the traditionally good business relations between the two countries.

The lawsuit is the latest development in an effort to hold companies responsible for what New York says is the damage resulting from their products.