Practical Law Glossary Item 5-506-5994 (Approx. 3 pages)
Glossary
Trademark Counterfeiting Act of 1984
A federal statute that provides criminal penalties for intentional trafficking or attempted trafficking in goods or services, and knowingly using a counterfeit mark in connection with those goods or services (18 U.S.C. § 2320).
Penalties for violations include:
Substantial monetary fines.
Imprisonment.
More severe penalties apply to repeat offenders.
This statute also amended the Lanham Act to provide additional civil remedies for trademark counterfeiting, including:
Awards of treble damages and attorneys' fees, absent extenuating circumstances (15 U.S.C. § 1117(b)).