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It's not stealing, but courts over and over, have validated that trademark owners, brandowners, have some control over regional sales channels. Here's a case starting back in the 90s, over Levis jeans, and imports from a lower cost region. This is somewhat parallel to phone imports from a lower cost region: https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/news/tesco-loses-levi-... Of course, this was about weakening brand perception, as consumer sale price was deemed part of the brand, aka the mark of their trade, trademark. Thus, it was about the price being lower. In the case discussed in thread, consumers aren't saving on phone cost, retailers are. But the hook is in, with repect to brand control as a viable limiter on imports and sale, so they could argue grey market phones might hurt the brand, as they've been modified or some such, prior to sale. |