California · Business and Professions Code - BPC

BPC §21672: (a) Any person, or agent thereof, who knowingly manufactures, produces, or distributes unlicensed or counterfeit sports trading cards with the intent to deceive, injure, or defraud another, is guilty

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

Manufacturing, producing, or distributing counterfeit or unlicensed sports trading cards with intent to deceive is a misdemeanor. Violators must refund buyers and may owe civil penalties up to $5,000 per card.

Read the full statutory text

(a) Any person, or agent thereof, who knowingly manufactures, produces, or distributes unlicensed or counterfeit sports trading cards with the intent to deceive, injure, or defraud another, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person, or agent thereof, who violates this subdivision shall do both of the following: (1) Refund to the buyer the full amount paid for the unlicensed or counterfeit sports trading card or the full retail value of any nonmonetary consideration received in exchange for the unlicensed or counterfeit sports trading card, or both. (2) Be liable to the buyer for a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each violation. Each card sold represents a separate and distinct violation. (b) Any person who knowingly sells a cut, unlicensed sports trading card that has been produced by cutting the card from a publication in which unlicensed sports trading cards are bound, without disclosing the source and the means of producing the card, with the intent to deceive, injure, or defraud another, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person who violates this subdivision shall do both of the following: (1) Refund to the buyer the full consideration paid or furnished for the cut, unlicensed sports trading card. (2) Be liable to the buyer for a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each violation. Each card sold represents a separate and distinct violation. This provision does not apply to a sports trading card that is excluded from the definition of “unlicensed sports trading card” pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 21670 of the Business and Professions Code by reason of being bound in a publication.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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