Presumably, West enters into marketing agreements with its distribution partners and these contracts must have some kind of provision restricting distribution to markets outside of the US.  It would be interesting to see what this language looks like and to get an idea of where in the distribution chain the problem occurs.  It would also be interesting to see what contractual and practical (enforcement) methods publishers use to deter and minimize the risk of their products being diverted to unauthorized distribution channels.

Is this similar to American citizens buying prescription drugs through pharmacies in Canada?


--------------------------------------------------------------
J. David Canarie, Jr.
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
278 Whites Bridge Road
Standish, ME 04084-5243

[log in to unmask]
www.sjcme.edu



-----Original Message-----
From: Academy of Legal Studies in Business (ALSB) Talk on behalf of Robert Bird
Sent: Mon 2/7/2005 5:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: gray market textbooks?
 
Hello everyone,
 
This semester I am using a new edition of a West textbook for a upper division course.  Students sought out the book online and have appeared with "International Student Versions" in the class.  These versions are identical but are in a paperback format.  Strategically placed stickers advertise the website where the book was obtained.  If you lift up the stickers, the book states in big letters that the textbook is not to be sold or used in the United States.  Conveniently, the course is international business law and I used the book as an example of the international gray market.  Am I right as to what these textbooks are?  Are there any other legal issues relevant to these rogue texts appearing in class?
 
Thanks!
 
Robert C. Bird
Assistant Professor
University of Connecticut
email: [log in to unmask]