CBC “Trader Joe’s loses fight with Vancouver’s Pirate Joe’s”

I learned the name Michael Hallatt first when he was introduced to me before commencing his address to Sauder’s class of 2017 during Frosh. One of the first points he had intended to make, was that his name was Michael Hallat, and he was being sued. He was outspoken, energetic, and came across as totally self-confident and rebellious. The business model he presented was one that I found extremely strange. Drive to the states, buy products from Trader Joe’s, drive back and resell them in Canada at his comedically-named “Pirate Joe’s” store in Kitsilano.  Why and how on earth did someone decide to start crossing the U.S.-Canada border to purchase another companies products if only to return and sell at a mark-up back home? I found it strange and seemingly illegal until he reinforced so convincingly that international laws protect himself and his business from any legal action imposed by Trader Joe’s. All the details of Michael Hallat and his speech to us returned to me upon a ruling this week by United States Judge Marsha Pechman which dismissed the case of Trader Joe’s vs. Michael Hallat citing the inutility of American laws to prosecute infringements in Canadian jurisdiction. Trader Joe’s could not prove any evidence of economic harm imposed by Pirate Joe’s and was therefore forced to appeal. The statement Michael Hallat made early friday morning reinforced the utmost confidence he had in himself and his business; a quality detected very easily by many Sauder froshees. 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/trader-joe-s-loses-fight-with-vancouver-s-pirate-joe-s-1.1912400