🚀 go-pugleaf

Don, 

I do mean unofficially imported, genuine brand goods; not counterfeit goods. 

In my example, Sony America doesn't make a dime from gray market goods. But because of the way the trademark is protected (or not-so-protected), others could legally import and sell genuine Sony products. Often the very same products as the official import, but cheaper, and definitely without Sony America warranty coverage (and that's a strong reason not to buy gray market goods).  

But you could always send the failing 50 lb monitor back to Japan for warranty repair, or trust that the unofficial importer has lined up a good repair facility in the States for doing their "warranty" repairs.  

This practice is rampant in the camera industry (perhaps I should have used Nikon or Kodak as the example) -- and you have to ask the right questions before you buy a camera if you want the official import with proper USA warranty protection. 

In my example, (from my understanding) about the only thing that Sony America could do to protect its interests is a battle of inconvenience with those who purchase such goods and those who would service them. They would deny "official" Sony service in case of a problem with the gray goods. They use serial number ranges and customer purchase receipts (as well as non-USA model numbers) and other identifiers to show how the goods were brought into the country and sold. They know what they imported and what they didn't. And Sony would not supply replacement parts to non-authorized service facilities. 

There may be some brands that have succeeded in preventiing extensive gray market import of their goods, but, I don't know specifics.  

Of course, all official importers can legally and aggressively battle the import or domestic production of counterfeit goods and prosecute those who do. 

Neil