Pa. Cons. Stat. » 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. (CRIMES AND OFFENSES) / Chapter 41
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4119 (2026)

 Trademark counterfeiting.

✓ current as of May 2026 Cite as: 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4119 (2026)
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§ 4119.  Trademark counterfeiting.

(a)  Offense defined.--Any person who knowingly and with intent to sell or to otherwise transfer for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain:

(1)  manufactures;

(2)  sells;

(3)  offers for sale;

(4)  displays;

(5)  advertises;

(6)  distributes; or

(7)  transports

any items or services bearing or identified by a counterfeit mark shall be guilty of the crime of trademark counterfeiting.

(b)  (Reserved).

(c)  Penalties.--

(1)  Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), a violation of this section constitutes a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(2)  A violation of this section constitutes a felony of the third degree if:

(i)  the defendant has previously been convicted under this section; or

(ii)  the violation involves more than 100 but less than 1,000 items bearing a counterfeit mark or the total retail value of all items or services bearing or identified by a counterfeit mark is more than $2,000, but less than $10,000.

(3)  A violation of this section constitutes a felony of the second degree if:

(i)  the defendant has been previously convicted of two or more offenses under this section;

(ii)  the violation involves the manufacture or production of items bearing counterfeit marks; or

(iii)  the violation involves 1,000 or more items bearing a counterfeit mark or the total retail value of all items or services bearing or identified by a counterfeit mark is more than $10,000.

(d)  Quantity or retail value.--The quantity or retail value of items or services shall include the aggregate quantity or retail value of all items or services the defendant manufactures, sells, offers for sale, displays, advertises, distributes or transports.

(e)  Fine.--Any person convicted under this section shall be fined in accordance with existing law or an amount up to three times the retail value of the items or services bearing or identified by a counterfeit mark, whichever is greater.

(f)  Seizure, forfeiture and disposition.--

(1)  Any items bearing a counterfeit mark, any property constituting or derived from any proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as the result of an offense under this section and all personal property, including, but not limited to, any items, objects, tools, machines, equipment, instrumentalities or vehicles of any kind, used in connection with a violation of this section shall be seized by a law enforcement officer.

(2)  (i)  All seized personal property and property constituting or derived from any proceeds referenced in paragraph (1) shall be forfeited in accordance with 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 5803 (relating to asset forfeiture), 5805 (relating to forfeiture procedure), 5806 (relating to motion for return of property), 5807 (relating to restrictions on use), 5807.1 (relating to prohibition on adoptive seizures) and 5808 (relating to exceptions).

(ii)  Upon the conclusion of all criminal and civil forfeiture proceedings, the court shall order that forfeited items bearing or consisting of a counterfeit mark be destroyed or alternatively disposed of in another manner with the written consent of the trademark owners and the prosecuting attorney responsible for the charges.

(3)  (i)  If a person is convicted of an offense under this section, the court shall order the person to pay restitution to the trademark owner and to any other victim of the offense.

(ii)  In determining the value of the property loss involving an offense against the trademark owner, a court shall grant restitution for all amounts, including expenses incurred by the trademark owner in the investigation and prosecution of the offense as well as the disgorgement of any profits realized by a person convicted of the offense.

(g)  Evidence.--Any Federal or State certificate of registration shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

(h)  Remedies cumulative.--The remedies provided for in this section shall be cumulative to the other civil and criminal remedies provided by law.

(i)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:

"Counterfeit mark."  A spurious mark that meets all of the following:

(1)  Is applied to, used or intended to be used in connection with an item or service.

(2)  Is identical with or substantially indistinguishable from a mark registered and in use in this Commonwealth, any other state or on the principal register in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, whether or not the person knew the mark was registered.

(3)  The application of which is either:

(i)  likely to cause confusion, to cause mistake or to deceive; or

(ii)  otherwise intended to be used on or in connection with the item or service for which the mark is registered.

"Item."  Any of the following:

(1)  Goods.

(2)  Labels.

(3)  Patches.

(4)  Fabric.

(5)  Stickers.

(6)  Wrappers.

(7)  Badges.

(8)  Emblems.

(9)  Medallions.

(10)  Charms.

(11)  Boxes.

(12)  Containers.

(13)  Cans.

(14)  Cases.

(15)  Hangtags.

(16)  Documentation.

(17)  Packaging.

(18)  Any other components of a type or nature that are designed, marketed or otherwise intended to be used on or in connection with any goods or services.

"Retail value."  One of the following:

(1)  The counterfeiter's regular selling price for the item or service bearing or identified by a counterfeit mark, except that it shall be the retail price of the authentic counterpart if the item or service bearing or identified by a counterfeit mark would appear to a reasonably prudent person to be authentic. If no authentic reasonably similar counterpart exists, the retail value shall be the counterfeiter's regular selling price.

(2)  If the items bearing a counterfeit mark are components of a finished product, the retail value shall be treated as if each component were a finished good and valued under paragraph (1).

(Oct. 16, 1996, P.L.715, No.128, eff. 60 days; Oct. 19, 2010, P.L.517, No.74, eff. 60 days; June 29, 2017, P.L.247, No.13, eff. July 1, 2017)

 

2017 Amendment.  Act 13 amended subsec. (f)(2)(i).

Cross References.  Section 4119 is referred to in sections 5803, 5808 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases, 2005–2020 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Omar
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Commonwealth v. Omar (2009) pa · cites it 34× “In these consolidated cases, the Centre County Court of Common Pleas dismissed charges filed by the Commonwealth for violations of the Trademark Counterfeiting Statute, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4119, based on the trial court's prior decision striking the statute as unconstitutionally vague…”
Commonwealth v. Crespo (2005) pacommwct · cites it 4× “On November 14, 2008, Crespo was arrested outside of the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield cafeteria and charged with the criminal offense of selling counterfeit merchandise in violation of Section 4119(a) (Trademark counterfeiting) of the Act, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4119(a). 2 Some of the…”
McCree v. State (2014) md · cites it 4× “The previous version of Pennsylvania’s trademark counterfeiting statute criminalized the “display! ]” or “distribution]” of “items” that bore, 18 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 4119(a) (1996), “[intellectual property .”
Shrey v. Kontz (2013) pamd · cites it 2× “intent to sell or distribute and with intent to sell or to otherwise transfer for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain: (1) manufactures; (2) sells; (3) offers for sale; (4) displays: (5) advertises: (6) distributes; or (7) transports any items or services…”
Com. v. Smalls, S. (2016) pasuperct · cites it 6× “…1925(b), this Court ordered a Concise Statement of Errors CP-51-CR-0009550-2014C Opinio~mm. v. Smalls, sreven 1 2 18 Pa.C.S. § 4119 §§ A3 18 Pa.C.S. § 4116 §§ D I I III I //I/Ill/ IIII 1111111 7283026881 1 Complained of on Appeal within twenty-one (21) days. On March 10,…”
Com. v. S.P.R. (2017) pasuperct · cites it 2× “* * * Here, as part of a multi-count, negotiated plea, [A]ppellant, on February 9, 2004, entered a guilty plea to one count of trademark counterfeiting, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4119. On October 5, 2009, however, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Commonwealth v.”
Com. v. Chouman, H. (2016) pasuperct “On November 4, 2015, Chouman was charged with trademark counterfeiting under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4119(a)(2) and (7) following discovery of counterfeit North Face jackets in his car during a traffic stop on Interstate 80.”
Com. v. Rawlings, D. (2020) pasuperct “1(a)(2)), and trademark counterfeiting (18 Pa.C.S. § 4119(a)(1)). On September 29, 2017, the court sentenced Appellant to the aggregate term stated supra.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4119(a) — 3 cases
Commonwealth v. Omar (2009) pa “In these consolidated cases, the Centre County Court of Common Pleas dismissed charges filed by the Commonwealth for violations of the Trademark Counterfeiting Statute, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4119, based on the trial court's prior decision striking the statute as unconstitutionally vague…”
Commonwealth v. Crespo (2005) pacommwct “On November 14, 2008, Crespo was arrested outside of the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield cafeteria and charged with the criminal offense of selling counterfeit merchandise in violation of Section 4119(a) (Trademark counterfeiting) of the Act, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4119(a). 2 Some of the…”
McCree v. State (2014) md “The previous version of Pennsylvania’s trademark counterfeiting statute criminalized the “display! ]” or “distribution]” of “items” that bore, 18 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 4119(a) (1996), “[intellectual property .”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4119(a)(1) — 1 case
Com. v. Rawlings, D. (2020) pasuperct “1(a)(2)), and trademark counterfeiting (18 Pa.C.S. § 4119(a)(1)). On September 29, 2017, the court sentenced Appellant to the aggregate term stated supra.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4119(a)(2) — 1 case
Com. v. Chouman, H. (2016) pasuperct “On November 4, 2015, Chouman was charged with trademark counterfeiting under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4119(a)(2) and (7) following discovery of counterfeit North Face jackets in his car during a traffic stop on Interstate 80.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4119(b) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Omar (2009) pa “In these consolidated cases, the Centre County Court of Common Pleas dismissed charges filed by the Commonwealth for violations of the Trademark Counterfeiting Statute, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4119, based on the trial court's prior decision striking the statute as unconstitutionally vague…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4119(c)(1) — 1 case
McCree v. State (2014) md “The previous version of Pennsylvania’s trademark counterfeiting statute criminalized the “display! ]” or “distribution]” of “items” that bore, 18 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 4119(a) (1996), “[intellectual property .”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4119(c)(2)(ii) — 1 case
Com. v. Smalls, S. (2016) pasuperct “…1925(b), this Court ordered a Concise Statement of Errors CP-51-CR-0009550-2014C Opinio~mm. v. Smalls, sreven 1 2 18 Pa.C.S. § 4119 §§ A3 18 Pa.C.S. § 4116 §§ D I I III I //I/Ill/ IIII 1111111 7283026881 1 Complained of on Appeal within twenty-one (21) days. On March 10,…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4119(f) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Crespo (2005) pacommwct “On November 14, 2008, Crespo was arrested outside of the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield cafeteria and charged with the criminal offense of selling counterfeit merchandise in violation of Section 4119(a) (Trademark counterfeiting) of the Act, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4119(a). 2 Some of the…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4119(i) — 3 cases
Commonwealth v. Omar (2009) pa “In these consolidated cases, the Centre County Court of Common Pleas dismissed charges filed by the Commonwealth for violations of the Trademark Counterfeiting Statute, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4119, based on the trial court's prior decision striking the statute as unconstitutionally vague…”
McCree v. State (2014) md “The previous version of Pennsylvania’s trademark counterfeiting statute criminalized the “display! ]” or “distribution]” of “items” that bore, 18 Pa. Cons.Stat. § 4119(a) (1996), “[intellectual property .”
Com. v. Smalls, S. (2016) pasuperct “…1925(b), this Court ordered a Concise Statement of Errors CP-51-CR-0009550-2014C Opinio~mm. v. Smalls, sreven 1 2 18 Pa.C.S. § 4119 §§ A3 18 Pa.C.S. § 4116 §§ D I I III I //I/Ill/ IIII 1111111 7283026881 1 Complained of on Appeal within twenty-one (21) days. On March 10,…”
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