So some smart ass from Thailand attending Cornell University notices texts books sold in Thailand are significantly cheaper there, than in the US. He gets relatives to buy and send them to him, then he resells them on ebay. The dude made a cool 1.2 million dollars while in school this way.  So the American publisher Wiley and Sons sues him because the books are made abroad. They successfully argue to the Appellate court  that since it was manufactured abroad the initial purchaser has no right to resell it in the USA.



The case is currently in front of the Supreme court on appeal. So what does this mean to the average American? Well, you cant resell your shit if any part of it was made in a foreign country without seeking copy write or patents permissions. That means just about everything from used cars to cell phones and the odd DaVinci  painting. No more flea markets, garage sells and auction houses. 



eBay is shitting bricks and has started a petition to stop the law. The ramifications of this could be earth shaking as American firms still manufacturing in the US will scramble to have their shit made in another country in order not to lose yet another competitive edge.

 
Source:  http://articles.marketwatch.com/2012-10-12/finance/34240922_1_copyright-iphone-consumer-groups