An excellent legal authority on parallel imports in the EU

Abstract

This section is dedicated to the review of ideas, articles, books, films and other media. It will include replies (and rejoinders) to articles, the evaluation of new ideas or proposals, and reviews of books and articles both directly and indirectly related to intellectual property law. According to the back cover, ‘this book is the first study to examine the issue of the legality of parallel imports of trademarked goods under the most important legal systems on an international level’. As such, I had very high expectations when I started reading it. Would this book achieve the same status in the area of parallel imports as Kerly in relation to trade marks or Terrell on patents? The book is divided into five parts, containing 15 individual chapters. Part I (which only has one chapter) discusses a general approach to the phenomenon of parallel importation and of a presentation of the theories that have been suggested to resolve the issue of the legality of parallel imports of trade marked goods. While slightly repetitive in parts, the chapter explains, in clear language that is accessible to all audiences with an interest in this subject matter, what parallel importation is and why it exists. It also reminds the audience of why trade marks exist generally and what they are meant to protect, as well as highlighting the tensions inherent between the rights of a trade mark owner to control his goods and the principles of free trade.