It's often said that the 21st century is characterized by a
flat world in which globalization, technology, and the Internet
have each contributed to level the economic playing field. But for
companies that manufacture and sell their products internationally,
the world is not exactly flat -- it is tilted. From cars to
cigarettes to pianos to pharmaceuticals, products that were
manufactured to be sold in other countries are finding their way
back to the United States where they are
sold through unauthorized and illegal channels. This unauthorized
economy - the "gray market" - is growing in size and
scope at an alarming rate: information technology manufacturers
alone have estimated losses at $40 billion in annual sales. In Gray
Markets: Prevention, Detection, and Litigation,
David Sugden provides the first comprehensive analysis of the gray
market as well as a blueprint for attorneys and businesses to
prevent, detect, and litigate gray market cases.
In Gray Markets, Sugden introduces readers to a variety of
strategies to prevent a brand owner's products from finding
their way into unauthorized distribution channels. From educational
and contractual methods that communicate the importance of gray
market abstinence, to on-site security and modern tracking
technologies, and to the use of private investigators and even
"dumpster dives," the book offers specific methods to
prevent supply chain leakage, while also examining the legal
boundaries
of gray market investigations.
