Enforcing Trademark Rights Against Gray Market Imports
Preventing Sales, Dealing With Retailers, U.S. Customs, and Copyright Law
Recording of a 90-minute premium CLE video webinar with Q&A
This CLE course will guide counsel on the challenges in enforcing trademark rights against gray market imports in traditional retail environments and over the internet, including the gray market sale of products directly to U.S. consumers via foreign websites and on U.S. websites. The panel will examine both legal and practical measures for addressing the gray market, including trademark and copyright enforcement, working with U.S. Customs, marketplace monitoring, and dealing directly with retailers.
Outline
- Challenges of enforcing trademark rights against gray market imports over the internet
- Traditional means of preventing sales of gray market products
- U.S. Customs
- Non-traditional means: Technological advancements, marketplace monitoring, dealing directly with retailers
Benefits
The panel will review these and other crucial issues:
- Current trends in gray market imports over the internet
- Strategies for policing trademarks to identify and stop importers and sellers
- Steps for IP counsel to pursue legal action to protect trademark rights
- Alternative solutions for monitoring the marketplace and working directly with retailers
Faculty

Bryce J. Maynard
Shareholder
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney
Mr. Maynard focuses his practice in the area of trademark law. He has significant experience in trademark litigation,... | Read More
Mr. Maynard focuses his practice in the area of trademark law. He has significant experience in trademark litigation, including litigation in the federal courts and the International Trade Commission, as well as before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. His experience also includes counseling foreign and domestic clients in the selection, clearance, prosecution and monitoring of trademarks in the U.S. and abroad. He also has significant experience in domain name matters.
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Laura K. Pitts
Counsel
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney
Ms. Pitts counsels clients on IP protection and enforcement strategies, manages clients’ global trademark... | Read More
Ms. Pitts counsels clients on IP protection and enforcement strategies, manages clients’ global trademark portfolios, and executes domestic and international trademark filings. Her experience includes preparing and filing trademark applications; drafting office action responses; and prosecuting and defending opposition and cancellation proceedings before the TTAB. Ms. Pitts has prepared trademark clearance opinions, cease and desist letters, coexistence agreements and IP licenses and assignments.
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