Ladas & Parry - Gray Market - Contents

IP As Property / IP Rights Licensing / Gray Market

Exhausted and Gray, but Still Going Strong: A Comparative View of Parallel Imports from the Trademark Perspective - Contents

A Comparative View of Parallel Imports from the Trademark Perspective
I. Defining the problem
II. Preventing parallel imports under trademark law

A. The United States approach
B. The European Union approach
C. International exhaustion and the Commonwealth
D. An affirmative action approach

III. Exceptions to the Exhaustion Rule

A. The genuine article

1. Different qualities or contents
2. Repackaging, relabeling and rebranding
3. Warranty issues

B. The issues of ownership and consent
C. Consent for some, consent for all
D. The luxury exception
E. Internet implications

IV. Preventing parallel imports under other legal theories

A. Customs laws
B. False Advertising
C. Passing Off
D. Unfair Competition
E. Trade Descriptions Act/Fair Trade Act
F. Other intellectual property rights

1. Trade names
2. Patent and Design Rights
3. Copyright

G. Violation of contractual obligations
H. Breach of regulatory provisions

V. Practical steps to prevent parallel imports

A. Adopting a uniform pricing policy
B. Labeling
C. Tinkering with the trademark
D. Individualizing products for the local market
E. Policing inventory
F. Mastering business relations

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