New Era, the hat and apparel company best known for their overpriced MLB baseball hats, sent a cease and desist letter to the Commonwealth Flipper, putting the First Sale Doctrine back in the spotlight.

The first sale doctrine, codified at 17 U.S.C. § 109, provides that an individual who knowingly purchases a copy of a copyrighted work from the copyright holder receives the right to sell, display or otherwise dispose of that particular copy, notwithstanding the interests of the copyright owner.

What’s your take on New Era and its strong-armed tactics? Do they have a right to stop resellers from reselling their products? 

Share your thoughts in the comments below.