However, here's is one of my other theories. Rather than send vinyl records abroad to internationally market (expensive), they sent copies of session tapes to foreign record companies to produce/market/sell the vinyl. The US record companies got a cut of the sales! This is why different versions of Pop US songs exist abroad! You had to be very careful what was marketed outside the US, some lyrics could be insulting and as you mentioned, name brands were not allowed in places! So, give a copy of the session tape, in case stuff had to be edited/masked out!

With that said, what still exists abroad, may not exist inland! The big boy record companies have opened shop outside the US, just to gain even more control!

Best,
John