Quote:
Originally Posted by calvin-c
On the part of the buyer, it's possibly providing false information-but in most jurisdictions I'm familiar with that's only a crime when it's provided to authorities (and even then, often only in a sworn statement).
The closest crime I can think of is fraud-and since the buyer is paying for the product I'm not sure that fraud would fit either. (I'm sure the buyer could be charged with fraud, I'm just not sure (s)he would be convicted.)
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The buyer of a book -- at least in the United States -- has no obligation to report correct identifying geographic information to a bookseller unless the buyer is trying to defraud to seller. If the buyer pays for the item, then giving false geographic information to the seller is not actionable. There is no contract between the buyer and seller.
The geographic restrictions are bargained for clauses in contracts between the author and publisher and then between the publisher and the wholesaler, and, finally, between the wholesaler and the retailer -- but not between anyone and the consumer-buyer. The retailer is obligated to reasonably enforce geographic restrictions. The consumer who gives false geographical information but actaully pays for book cannot be charged with fraud; it is not a crime unless the false information is given to a law enforcement officer in an attempt to disrupt an investigation.
At least not yet, Americans do not have to carry and display on demand to whoever asks official identification papers or a passport.