"replica" Watches

[RonD]

This might be the wrong forum, however any responses could be a good indication of a general public view and possible confusion on the matter.

I'm aware of copyright laws, and that selling copies/purchasing copies is in general "not ok".

However, I've been taking a look at various replica watch sites (spam mail folder email links mostly or by Internet Search engine search), and their terms & conditions, disclaimers etc.

They're often stating it's legal because they sell it for "novelty purposes" or in order to consider/purchasing the real watch in the future and they are not claiming it is the original watch they're selling. They are also in certain examples, stating certain legislation clauses who they say is "protecting them" and gives them certain rights (Internet Privacy act 1995 for instance). Certain sites seem to have been active for a couple of years as well.

They're surely exaggerating their rights. But on the other hand - Swiss custom allows a person to keep 1 replica watch if they're bringing it into Switzerland personally (ref: Wikipedia - "replica watches").

So is there any way where the Internet seller can provide replica watches in a legal manner? At the moment, with current legislation?

Or is it more complicated then that, with local legislations coming into place together with international laws?

[lopburi3]

This is not a subject for discussion on the forum -