Missouri Laws 570.103 – Crime of counterfeiting, definitions — penalty
1. As used in this section and section 570.105, the following words mean:
(1) “Counterfeit mark”, any unauthorized reproduction or copy of intellectual property or intellectual property affixed to any item knowingly sold, offered for sale, manufactured, or distributed, or identifying services offered or rendered, without the authority of the owner of the intellectual property;
Attorney's Note
Under the Missouri Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class D felony | up to 7 years | up to $10,000 |
| Class E felony | up to 4 years | up to $10,000 |
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 1 year | up to $2,000 |
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 570.103
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of the statutes, mean the section next preceding or next following that in which the reference is made, unless some other section is expressly designated in the reference. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Property: anything of value, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, in possession or in action, and shall include but not be limited to the evidence of a debt actually executed but not delivered or issued as a valid instrument. See Missouri Laws 570.010
- Services: includes transportation, telephone, electricity, gas, water, or other public service, cable television service, video service, voice over internet protocol service, or internet service, accommodation in hotels, restaurants or elsewhere, admission to exhibitions and use of vehicles. See Missouri Laws 570.010
- State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
(2) “Intellectual property”, any trademark, service mark, trade name, label, term, device, design, or word adopted or used by a person to identify such person’s goods or services;
(3) “Retail value”, the counterfeiter’s regular selling price for the item or service bearing or identified by the counterfeit mark. In the case of items bearing a counterfeit mark which are components of a finished product, the retail value shall be the counterfeiter’s regular selling price of the finished product on or in which the component would be utilized.
2. A person commits the offense of counterfeiting if he or she willfully manufactures, uses, displays, advertises, distributes, offers for sale, sells, or possesses for the purpose of selling or distributing any item, or services, bearing or identified by a counterfeit mark. A person having possession, custody or control of more than twenty-five items bearing a counterfeit mark shall be presumed to possess said items for the purpose of selling or distributing.
3. The offense of counterfeiting is a class A misdemeanor, except as provided in subsections 4 and 5 of this section.
4. The offense of counterfeiting is a class E felony if:
(1) The defendant has previously been convicted under this section; or
(2) The violation involves more than one hundred but fewer than one thousand items bearing a counterfeit mark or the total retail value of all items bearing, or services identified by, a counterfeit mark is seven hundred fifty dollars or more.
5. The offense of counterfeiting is a class D felony if:
(1) The defendant has been previously convicted of two or more offenses under this section;
(2) The violation involves the manufacture or production of items bearing counterfeit marks; or
(3) The violation involves one thousand or more items bearing a counterfeit mark or the total retail value of all items bearing, or services identified by, a counterfeit mark is twenty-five thousand dollars or more.
6. For purposes of this section, the quantity or retail value of items or services shall include the aggregate quantity or retail value of all items bearing, or services identified by, every counterfeit mark the defendant manufactures, uses, displays, advertises, distributes, offers for sale, sells or possesses.
7. The remedies provided for herein shall be cumulative to the other civil remedies provided by law.
8. Any state or federal certificate of registration of any intellectual property shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.