Unauthorised sellers distribute products for sale without authorisation of the original manufacturer. The sale of these ‘grey goods’ can have a negative impact on a brand by creating brand confusion, decreasing overall sales revenue and damaging distributors’ sales efforts and agreements. 

Marketplaces and e-commerce websites have become fertile ground for unauthorised sellers. In addition to authentic products being sold by unlicensed resellers, damaged returns, overstock, expired or defective merchandise are often sold on platforms such Amazon, eBay and many other leading marketplaces, as well as niche e-commerce sites.

Brands are challenged by the global nature of the problem and the volume of goods for sale across multiple online channels. Identifying offenders, and taking effective action on a manual basis is an impossible and never ending task.