Shortlisted for the 2008 Young Authors Inner Temple Book Prize Are parallel importers the key to free trade, breaking down long-established national barriers for the benefit of all? Or do they instead just operate in a dubious 'grey market' for their own profit, free-loading on the investment of innovators and brand owners to the ultimate detriment of everyone? Parallel trade is in turn lionised and demonised, both in legal commentary and in the mainstream press. As one might expect, the truth lies somewhere between these extremes. Once goods have been manufactured they are put onto the market in one country by the manufacturer. Parallel trade occurs when the goods are subsequently transferred to a second country by another party (the parallel trader, who may be the end consumer). The distinguishing feature of parallel trade is that the manufacturer did not intend those particular goods to end up in the second country. The goods are normally described in that country as 'parallel imports' or 'grey market goods'. The latter term is generally used to suggest that the trade, while not exactly 'black market', is not entirely lawful either. Understanding how European Community law operates to permit or restrict parallel trade involves exploring a complex matrix of rules from the fields of free movement, intellectual property, competition and regulatory law, including both private and public enforcement regimes. Where goods are parallel imported from outside the Community these rules change and new considerations come into play, such as obligations arising from the European Economic Area, the World Trade Organization and bilateral free trade agreements. The experience of Europe, which has grappled with the issues on a regional basis for more than four decades, provides a fertile source for examination of parallel trade in other jurisdictions. Christopher Stothers' comprehensive treatment successfully analyses this difficult topic, considering both Community and national decisions.

This is a new edition of Peter Oliver's classic work "Free Movement of Goods in the European Community" (now, in the light of the Lisbon Treaty revisions "European Union") which has established itself as one of the leading works of reference on European law for practitioners and academics alike. Indeed, whether advising clients or preparing for teaching there is no European lawyer who can afford not to have a copy of this book close to hand. Concise, precise, and lucid, the book has become the first port of call for anyone seeking answers to questions about the foundations of free movement of goods in the EU. With specialist chapters written by leading academic and practising lawyers, including Peter Oliver himself, this edition has been extensively rewritten to take into account recent judgments from the ECJ, including important cases such as C-110/05 Commission v Italy ('trailers') and C- 142/05 Mickelsson ('jet skis'), both of which relate to restrictions on the use of goods. It also takes account of all the recent European legislation and the impact of the Lisbon Treaty.