Counterfeit Merchandise sold during deployments

SGT Suraj Dave — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 22:12:35 -0400

Quick question, what exactly makes it legal? Don't get me wrong. I was real appreciate for the cheap DVD's, Electronics, bags, eye pro etc... that is sold for cheap during deployments by local nationals... but isn't the FOB/OP/COP count as government property? I am just confused as to why Oakley and the Motion Picture Association are alright with the U.S. government allowing local's to sell their counterfeit products. It isn't a secret or anything, its openly done. I find it hard to believe theese companies aren't aware that soldiers are buying counterfeit merchandise with their logo for substantially cheap prices. Why hasn't any of these companies pursued a stop to this? Is there a legal loop hole which makes it OK? Again. Super thankful for all the bootleg stuff the Afghans have sold me over my deployments. Just wondering.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2014 3:54 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 03:54:19 -0400

The problem is economics. In the US, laws are passed against bootlegging movies and music and the like. Outside the US, International laws apply but they are harder to pursue offenders. The big corporations may have to spend a lot of money just to file charges in an international court just to stop some local from selling his products, but they won't break even...costs more to prosecute than the money they would get in return. Plus when you look at it, most of that stuff breaks or malfunctions after 6 months anyway. You get what you pay for. And most of the movies can be downloaded anyway and that's what the corporations are devoting most of their efforts to shutting down since those websites service worldwide vs DVD sellers that are localized.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2014 10:00 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 22:00:32 -0400

IDK the legality of it, but from what I have heard the reason that we are allowed to purchase bootleg merchandise on deployment is because the countries we are getting this stuff in don't have copyright laws. When I went to Iraq, we were allowed to take as much stuff back with us as long as it was only one copy of each item. It sounded like they were trying to prevent the illegal sale of bootleg products on the American economy, where there are copyright laws. In Afghanistan, they put a cap on the number of bootleg products we could bring back, but I don't remember what it was. I just know that there wasn't anything worth getting from Afghanistan compared to Iraq.

Response by Sgt Bruce Taylor made Feb 26 at 2017 8:26 AM

Sgt Bruce Taylor — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 08:26:42 -0500

None of the manufacturers of American clothes, tchotchkas, or whatever are American companies anymore anyway. If I don't HAVE to enforce a rule protecting items manufactured in Malaysia from competition by items manufactured in Cambodia, WTF should I care who's label is on that crap?

Response by LCpl Jeff Moore made Feb 26 at 2017 8:55 AM

LCpl Jeff Moore — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 08:55:45 -0500

U.S. customs law actually allows a person to import a limited number of black market good aka counterfeit. Once reason is they are short staffed, the other is no ausa will ever press charges.

Response by SGT Matt Husen made Aug 17 at 2019 3:14 PM

SGT Matt Husen — Sat, 17 Aug 2019 15:14:27 -0400

Why should you care if your DVD, or sunglasses are bootleg, or not after patrolling the streets which are full of people that want to kill you all day?