Question:
How illegal is it to sell an electronic device for more than it was purchased for?
2015-06-15 21:12:18 UTC
How illegal is it to sell an electronic device for more than it was purchased for?
Fourteen answers:
Yeti
2015-06-16 01:22:19 UTC
It's perfectly legal to resell an electronic item for a profit.



HOWEVER, you would need to read the licenses that come with these particular products, as it may be illegal to sell them in modified form. In particular, I would be worried about you selling this open source software, which usually would be a no-no.



Also, depending on how it's marketed, you could have trademark (and potentially copyright) issues.



If you want better answers, make your main headline question reflect what you're actually asking. There's a difference between reselling an unmodified, used TV or radio versus what you're talking about in the more detailed part of your question. That is NOT just "selling an electronic device for more than it was purchased for."
Mick
2015-06-16 02:36:36 UTC
You're allowed to buy a product and resell it for greater value. The complication of the law arises in the modification of the electronic device. This is because the consumers can be confused to believe that Amazon and Kodi reached a joint partnership to distribute the item. The most ethical way to sell a product such as that is to clearly indicate to the consumer that the products were developed separately by each company and that a service provider connected the two to create something new.



Either way, whether this message is clearly indicated or not, this would rarely ever be defined as criminally illegal. It would be a claims issue and if anything Amazon or Kodi would be the ones to shut you down or sue in the event that they didn't like what you were doing. Normally this arises in a cease and desist letter.



Technology advances at an exponential rate as the combination of new technologies continue to make new and exciting products. An engineer combining two existing technologies to create an even better one should be celebrated and not condemned, in my opinion.



Source: Not a lawyer or an expert.
2015-06-17 11:24:53 UTC
He is not breaking any law by selling goods at a profit. This is just free trading.



But by effectively setting himself up as a retailer he may be liable for local sales taxes if there are any. Not paying taxes is a serious offence.



Also, he is making himself liable for the quality of the goods that he is selling and will be held responsible for refunding or repairing or replacing defective items. So-called "goods bought at purchaser's risk" notices are not enforceable in most US states or European countries.



Do not underestimate the cost of this. Dealing with even one "customer return" could wipe out your profits for a month's trading. If the disgruntled customer took you to court you risk bankruptcy. Sensible dealers take insurance against "public liability" and returns losses.



It would be completly illegal to change the badges, labels or copyright notices of the goods that are sold. You could be sued for lots of money.



If you choose to copy this person's example and set yourself up as a small trader then you can do it. But bare in mind the responsibilites that go with it.
Tortfeasor
2015-06-16 11:26:25 UTC
You can charge for a product that incorporates GPL licensed software and that is in fact extremely common. The issue is that if you link GPL licensed code to proprietary code, you have to make your proprietary code available under the terms of the GPL.



The issue I see is that XBMC Kodi is not an approved app. Amazon has blocked it from the store. I don't know if "sideloading" an unsupported app is a violation of the Fire Stick EULA, but that would be the first thing I would check.
2015-06-17 08:26:05 UTC
It's not illegal to make a living.



good luck
arbiter
2015-06-16 00:00:52 UTC
The software is listed as open source so is probably subject to the GPL license. This means you should not be charging for the software itself.
2015-06-15 21:21:15 UTC
It is not illegal. But you should try to buy them at a wholesale price and thus give your buyer a better deal.
The Arbiter of common sense
2015-06-16 15:23:32 UTC
??Every business in the world attempts to sell goods for more than they paid. Do you think that Amazon charged HIM less than they paid??
Little Princess
2015-06-15 22:41:20 UTC
That is zero percent illegal and has been outlawed in zero states.
Nekkid Truth!
2015-06-15 21:30:16 UTC
Not illegal if you are honest about the condition of the item
?
2015-06-15 22:57:37 UTC
It is not a crime to buy low and sell high.
2015-06-15 21:22:15 UTC
nothing illegal unless you lie about the condition of the product, like stating it is new.
?
2015-06-17 04:19:29 UTC
How do you think shops work?
Harley Drive
2015-06-15 22:10:42 UTC
probably breaks the public license so probably illegal


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