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Old 09-09-2006, 09:52 AM   #1 (permalink)
SundryWhatNots
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Default Parallel Importing, Grey Market, and the Law

Greetings, all!

Does any one have some information or links on the laws in the United States concerning parallel importing (a.k.a. Grey Market)?

It appears that purchasing U.S. trademarked products (iPod, XBox, cosmetics, etc) from a wholesaler outside of the U.S., importing those products back to the US, and reselling the products ("parallel importing") in the U.S. could be a violation of the law.

I say "could be" because, as I understand it, one section of the law says that the manufacturer cannot impose resell restrictions on the initial purchaser of the product ("first use"), yet another part of the law does allow control if that product is imported.

As I understand it, this means that a good portion of the "NIB" consumer electronic products sold on eBay are illegal.

So...does anyone have experience in this area? I probably need a lawyer, but I thought I'd ask here first. Thanks!
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