Copyright law gives the copyright owner the exclusive right to produce for sale (or license) their products.
The First Sale Doctrine creates an exception to that, so that an origial, legitimately obtained item can be re-sold. Otherwise, it WOULD be illegal to sell a used DVD, or a used book, etc.
Whether or not importing international editions of textbooks is legal or not is currently being fought out in various district courts. Publishers have won some cases and lost others. But Amazon's policy is that they do not allow them to be sold.
Amazon can have whatever policies they like for their website. However, violating an Amazon rule does not necessarily mean you have done anything illegal. For example, if I have a no smoking rule in my house, and you light up a cigarette there, you have violated my rule. But that does not mean I can call the police and have you thrown in jail because smoking is not illegal (yet).
As far as what you should do with Amazon, it is difficult to say. On one hand, I can understand your temptation to proclaim your innocence. On the other hand, it might bring additional scrutiny to your account. Maybe others will chime in...
Last edited by jeffweico; 03-22-2012 at 10:42 PM.
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