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Old Jul 25, 2005 | 7:09 pm
  #10  
pdhenry
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Pennsylvania
Programs: HHonors Silver
Posts: 4,029
Originally Posted by opus17
My understanding is that these items are contraband (like Cuban cigars, for example). Customs are quite active in online piracy and other similar efforts.
See http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/va...ightedArticles

Trademarked and Copyrighted Articles
Articles bearing marks that are counterfeit or inappropriately using a federally registered trademark are subject to seizure and forfeiture.

...However, travelers arriving in the United States may be permitted an exemption and allowed to import one article of each type, which must accompany the person, bearing a counterfeit, confusingly similar or restricted gray market trademark, provided that the article is for personal use and is not for sale.

This exemption may be granted not more than once every 30 days. The arriving passenger may retain one article of each type accompanying the person. For example, an arriving person who has three purses, whether each bears a different infringing trademark, or whether all three bear the same infringing trademark, is permitted only one purse. If the article imported under the personal exemption provision is sold within one year after the date of importation, the article or its value is subject to forfeiture.

In regard to copyright infringement, articles that are determined by CBP to be clearly piratical of a protected copyright, i.e., unauthorized articles that are substantially similar to a material protected by a copyright, are subject to seizure. A personal use exemption for articles, similar to that described above also applies to copyrighted articles for the personal, non-commercial use of the importer and are not for sale or distribution.
I read this to mean that you may import ONE pirated item but not several different titles, since they are mutiple items of one type.

Last edited by pdhenry; Jul 25, 2005 at 7:13 pm
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