Then why label it at all? You obviously know how the sales chain works -- manufacturer to master distributor to reseller. If they know it's going to fall apart after the very first step, there isn't any point.
Yes there is due to National laws and contracts between manufacturer and master distributor.
With the last years more Global "rules" due to heavy internet sales.
I never said anything about it being illegal. Please don't put words in my mouth. I've had enough of people doing thatWhat I did say is that they are doing something that Nintendo obviously does not want them to do -- namely, distribute the retail-packaged product outside Japan.
Let me quote your words
And before anyone comes back and says "why did they allow foreign cards", I'm pretty sure the rule was designed to allow for players and collectors who trade cards with people overseas, not to create a black market for product intended to stay on Japanese shelves.
A black market is a market of product you didn't pay taxes for, which is a true illegal action.
Most times containing stolen product, which is not the case with Japanese cards.
Doing something Nintendo might not want them to do is something very different than creating a black market.
However there is a difference in what Nintendo might not want to happen and to what they (legal) can prevent.
It's very difficult (almost impossible) to forbid people to use/own items outside a certain area.
At least it is for a company, a gouvernment can make a law for it, but they can't.
There is no law which can stop me from selling my USA made boosterbox to somebody in Japan. (I don't know the Japanese laws about this, so I assume).
But there is a law which prevents me selling my USA boosterbox to somebody in Russia.(at least a few years ago) That law is not put on me but on the citizens of Russia, their gouvernment made a law to forbid Pokemon cards (don't know if it's still valid). I can sell it but they are not allowed to OWN it, so no deal.
And to my knowledge the USA boxes say "for sale outside Japan" and Russia is outside of Japan.
There is no law which can stop me from asking somebody in the USA to buy me the new DS Pokemon game and send it to me and use it.
But enough of this.
All I know for Europe this rule give a big problem.
We actually can burn the cards we won 2 days ago in a German SPT, because we will not be allowed to use them here.
Perhaps there should also be a rule about boosterprizes given out on official tournaments should be the English ones, so you can at least use your prize.
