Found an issue on this page? Let us know and we will look into it as soon as possible.
Do legal issues exist when relabeling items, sold in US retail stores, for export & resale under private label?
Anonymous4 views2 answers
Business Case: US company decides to purchase items, from a Forever 21 website for example, then relabel items a private Label. Relabeling is done in the US. items are sold to a foreign company. Items are exported. Items are resold under private label, by company operating as same name, in foreign country. Do legal issues exist in both countries? What are the points of exposure?
Andrew Endicott SchrafelContracts / Agreements LawyerFloral Park, NY ·
This is reverse passing off, an infringement of the manufacturer's trademark rights. Get permission from the original manufacturer, or don't do it.
Discuss all the details with an attorney in your area.
You face many legal issues, but without knowing the precise items and the extent to which they are protected by trademark law (among others) I cannot begin to advise you. If you relabel someone else's product and pass it off as your own, this can constitute reverse passing off under trademark law both in the U.S. and foreign countries. Further, there may be federal and state regulatory (drugs, safety, health, etc) requirements for the contents of labels which require you to identify the original manufacturer and brand, and various other pieces of information, and failure to include this information on your "relabeled" items could subject you to civil and criminal penalties. You need to retain and work with IP/business/regulatory counsel. Further, you probably will need to obtain a license from the original manufacturer and/or trademark owner before you can do this.
