Tweet
My question is a simple one. I started a unique website that found a niche.We are in the US. It did not take long for manufacturers from Pakistan to jump all over this. That itself is not a big deal as our own manufacturer is from Pakistan. I think that good clean competition is fun. But our business involves selling apparel in the style of apparel worn in films and on television. We are very careful NOT to use images from the films and television shows, nor do we mention the film, character, actor, etc. when we sell apparel due to the copyright, trademark and intellectual property laws. It makes the business challenging for certain.
Of course, the Pakistani vendors are using production stills, screen captures, mentioning the movie title and character, etc. They are stealing the images from my discussion board as well. The real issue is that they are using these images in lieu of their actual product and customers are being enticed by the images and getting poor quality garments.
As a result we put these manufacturers into our Hall of Shame so customers can be aware of what to expect. We post screen captures of the offense as proof since the first they do is cry "defamation" which is not accurate as we are showing the facts. Images that I took with my own camera in some instances are showing up on these sites.
Now, my understanding of defamation is that it cannot exist unless what I am writing is untrue (and it is not).
The question all of this leads to is that I thought that companies who are doing business with the US (often spoofing us-based locations and telephone numbers) had to comply with the laws of the US. I am most concerned with trademark, copyright and intellectual property laws of course.
If there is such a regulation, can you please cite it here so I can use it on our legal section of the website?
Thank you for your help.
Of course, the Pakistani vendors are using production stills, screen captures, mentioning the movie title and character, etc. They are stealing the images from my discussion board as well. The real issue is that they are using these images in lieu of their actual product and customers are being enticed by the images and getting poor quality garments.
As a result we put these manufacturers into our Hall of Shame so customers can be aware of what to expect. We post screen captures of the offense as proof since the first they do is cry "defamation" which is not accurate as we are showing the facts. Images that I took with my own camera in some instances are showing up on these sites.
Now, my understanding of defamation is that it cannot exist unless what I am writing is untrue (and it is not).
The question all of this leads to is that I thought that companies who are doing business with the US (often spoofing us-based locations and telephone numbers) had to comply with the laws of the US. I am most concerned with trademark, copyright and intellectual property laws of course.
If there is such a regulation, can you please cite it here so I can use it on our legal section of the website?
Thank you for your help.
Comment