§ 10-1-454 — Penalties for forged or counterfeited trademarks, service marks, copyrighted or registered designs, or unauthorized reproductions; forfeiture

Georgia § 10-1-454

• Jurisdiction: Georgia
• Title: 10

Text

(a) As used in this Code section, the term "forged or counterfeited trademark, service mark, or copyrighted or registered design" means any mark or design which is identical to, substantially indistinguishable from, or an imitation of a trademark, service mark, or copyrighted or registered design which is registered for those types of goods or services with the Secretary of State pursuant to this part or registered on the Principal Register of the United States Patent and Trademark Office or registered under the laws of any other state or protected by the federal Amateur Sports Act of 1978, 36 U.S.C. Section 380, whether or not the offender knew such mark or design was so registered or protected, if the use of such trademark, service mark, or copyrighted or registered design has not been authorized by the owner thereof. The unregistered symbols, emblems, trademarks, insignias, and words covered by the federal Amateur Sports Act of 1978, 36 U.S.C. Section 380, shall be afforded protection under the trademark law in the same manner as registered trademarks, service marks, and copyrighted or registered designs. (b) Any person who knowingly and willfully forges or counterfeits any trademark, service mark, or copyrighted or registered design, without the consent of the owner of such trademark, service mark, or copyrighted or registered design, or who knowingly possesses any tool, machine, device, or other reproduction instrument or material with the intent to reproduce any forged or counterfeited trademark, service mark, or copyrighted or registered design shall be guilty of the offense of trademark, service mark, or copyrighted or registered design counterfeiting and, upon conviction, shall be punished as follows: (1) If the goods or services to which the forged or counterfeit trademarks, service marks, or copyrighted or registered designs are attached or affixed, or in connection with which they are used, or to which the offender intended they be attached or affixed, or in connection with which the offender intended they be used, have, in the aggregate, a retail sale value of $100,000.00 or more, such person shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than five nor more than 20 years and by a fine not to exceed $200,000.00 or twice the retail sale value of the goods or services, whichever is greater; (2) If the goods or services to which the forged or counterfeit trademarks, service marks, or copyrighted or registered designs are attached or affixed, or in connection with which they are used, or to which the offender intended they be attached or affixed, or in connection with which the offender intended they be used, have, in the aggregate, a retail sale value of $10,000.00 or more but less than $100,000.00, such person shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two nor more than ten years and by a fine not to exceed $20,000.00 or twice the retail sale value of the goods or services, whichever is greater; (3) If the goods or services to which the forged or counterfeit trademarks, service marks, or copyrighted or registered designs are attached or affixed, or in connection with which they are used, or to which the offender intended they be attached or affixed, or in connection with which the offender intended they be used, have, in the aggregate, a retail sale value of less than $10,000.00, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature; or (4) If a person who violates this subsection previously has been convicted of another violation of this subsection, such person shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction of the second or subsequent such violation, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than ten nor more than 20 years and by a fine not to exceed $200,000.00 or twice the retail sale value of the goods or services, whichever is greater. (c) Any person who sells or resells or offers for sale or resale or who purchases and keeps or has in his or her possession with the intent to sell or resell any goods he or she knows or should have known bear a forged or counterfeit trademark or copyrighted or registered design or who sells or offers for sale any service which is sold or offered for sale in conjunction with a forged or counterfeit service mark or copyrighted or registered design, knowing the same to be forged or counterfeited, shall be guilty of the offense of selling or offering for sale counterfeit goods or services and, upon conviction, shall be punished as follows: (1) If the goods or services sold or offered for sale to which the forged or counterfeit trademarks, service marks, or copyrighted or registered designs are attached or affixed, or in connection with which they are used, have, in the aggregate, a retail sale value of $10,000.00 or more, such person shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years and by a fine not to exceed $50,000.00 or twice the retail sale value of the goods or services, whichever is greater; (2) If the goods or services to which the forged or counterfeit trademarks, service marks, or copyrighted or registered designs are attached or affixed, or in connection with which they are used, have, in the aggregate, a retail sale value of less than $10,000.00, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature; or (3) If a person who violates this subsection previously has been convicted of another violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection, such person shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction of the second or subsequent such violation, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than five nor more than ten years and by a fine not to exceed $100,000.00 or twice the retail sale value of the goods or services, whichever is greater. (d) (1) The State of Georgia finds and declares that the citizens of this state have a right to receive those goods and services which they reasonably believe they are purchasing or for which they contract. The state further finds that the manufacture and sale of counterfeit goods or goods which are not what they purport to be and the offering of services through the use of counterfeit service marks constitutes a fraud on the public and results in economic disruption to the legitimate businesses of this state. In order to protect the citizens and businesses of this state it is necessary to take appropriate actions to remove counterfeit goods from the channels of commerce and prevent the manufacture, sale, and distribution of such goods or the offering of such services through the use of counterfeit service marks. (2) As used in this subsection, the terms "proceeds" and "property" shall have the same meanings as set forth in Code Section 9-16-2 . (3) Any property which is, directly or indirectly, used or intended for use in any manner to facilitate a violation of this Code section and any proceeds are declared to be contraband and no person shall have a property right in them. (4) Any property subject to forfeiture pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection shall be forfeited in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 16 of Title 9. (e) An owner, officer, employee, or agent who provides, rents, leases, licenses, or sells real property upon which a violation of this Code section occurs shall not be subject to a criminal penalty pursuant to this Code section unless he or she sells or possesses for sale articles such person knows bear a counterfeit trademark or copyrighted or registered design or offers services through the use of a counterfeit service mark or copyrighted or registered design in violation of this Code section. This subsection shall not be construed to abrogate or limit any civil rights or remedies for a trademark or service mark violation.

Legislative History

Amended by 2015 Ga. Laws 98,§ 3-7, eff. 7/1/2015.