Is it legal to buy name brand clothing from stores and resell it online?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Is it legal to buy name brand clothing from stores and resell it online?
I am considering starting an online store where you can buy name brand clothing at a discounted price. I would do so buy purchasing clothes from discount stores for a low price, then reselling the clothing on my website. Is this legal or do I need permission from the clothing companies themselves?
Asked on May 11, 2012 under Business Law, California
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
If you do not represent yourself (even implicitly) as being an authorized reseller or agent, etc., of those companies, it would be legal, so long as in buying the clothing, you did not sign or otherwise agree to any agreement to not resell them.
You also need to be careful of not using the brand name clothing companys' logos or trademarks without permission. So, to use an example: say you buy and resell "Lee" jeans. You can list them as jeans from the Lee Jeans company on your website, but do not use the actual "Lee" logo--that particular script way they sign their company name.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.