Montana Title 30. Trade and Commerce § 30-13-338. Trademark counterfeiting--presumption--penalties--restitution--forfeiture

(1)(a) A person commits the offense of trademark counterfeiting if the person knowingly manufactures, distributes, transports, offers for sale, sells, or possesses with intent to sell or distribute any goods, services, labels, patches, fabric, stickers, wrappers, badges, emblems, medallions, charms, boxes, containers, cans, cases, hangtags, documentation, packaging, or any other components of any type or nature that are designed, marketed, or otherwise intended to be used on or in connection with any goods or services bearing a counterfeit mark.

(b) A person having possession, custody, or control of more than 25 items of goods, labels, patches, fabric, stickers, wrappers, badges, emblems, medallions, charms, boxes, containers, cans, cases, hangtags, documentation, packaging, or any other components of any type or nature bearing a counterfeit mark must be presumed to possess the items with intent to offer for sale, sell, or distribute the items.

(2)(a) A person convicted of the offense of trademark counterfeiting shall be fined an amount not to exceed $1,000 or be imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed 6 months, or both, if the offense involves less than 100 items bearing one or more counterfeit marks or the total retail value is less than $1,000. A person convicted of a second offense shall be fined $1,000 or be imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed 6 months, or both. A person convicted of a third or subsequent offense shall be fined $1,000 and be imprisoned in the county jail for a term of not less than 30 days or more than 6 months.

(b) If the offense involves 100 items or more bearing one or more counterfeit marks and the retail value is $1,000 or more, the person shall be fined an amount not to exceed $10,000 or be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 1 year, or both.

(4)(a) Any items bearing a counterfeit mark and all personal property employed or used in connection with counterfeiting, including but not limited to any items, objects, tools, machines, equipment, instruments, or vehicles of any kind, must be seized by law enforcement officials who have the opportunity to take possession of the items or personal property.

(b) All seized items and personal property referenced in this subsection (4) must be forfeited and may, upon request of the registrant, be released to the registrant for destruction or destroyed by an officer of the court as provided in 30-13-335 unless the registrant agrees to another disposition of the seized items or personal property.