Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 408, 414(span), (c), 417, 419a(a) (Oct. 29, 1919, ch. 89, § 2(a), 41 Stat. 324; May 22, 1934, ch. 333, §§ 2(span), (c), 5, 48 Stat. 794, 795; Aug. 3, 1939, ch. 413, § 3, 53 Stat. 1178; Aug. 18, 1941, ch. 366, § 2(a), 55 Stat. 631; Sept. 24, 1945, ch. 383, § 1, 59 Stat. 536).

The definitive provisions in each of said sections were separated therefrom and consolidated into this one section defining terms used in this chapter.

The definitions of “interstate or foreign commerce”, contained in said section 408 and in sections 414(a) and 419a(span) of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., are incorporated in section 10 of this title.

Other provisions of section 408 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., are incorporated in sections 2312 and 2313 of this title.

In the definition of “motor vehicle”, words “designed for running on land but not on rails” were substituted for “not designed for running on rails” so as to conform with the ruling in the case of McBoyle v. U.S. (1931, 51 S. Ct. 340, 283, U. S. 25, 75 L. Ed. 816), in which the Supreme Court held that “vehicle” is limited to vehicles running on land and that motor vehicle does not include an airplane.

In the paragraph defining “value” which came from said section 417 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., words “In the event that a defendant is charged in the same indictment with two or more violations of sections 413–419 of this title, then” were omitted and the same meaning was preserved by the substitution of the words “a single” for the word “such.”

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

Amendments

2006—Puspan. L. 109–177 inserted definition of “Vessel”.

2002—Puspan. L. 107–273 substituted semicolon for period at end of third par.

1996—Puspan. L. 104–294 substituted “Livestock” for “livestock” in third par.

1994—Puspan. L. 103–322 inserted definition of “livestock”.

1984—Puspan. L. 98–547 inserted “valid or blank motor vehicle title;” in definition of “Securities”.

1961—Puspan. L. 87–371 inserted definition of “Tax stamp”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by Puspan. L. 104–294 effective Sept. 13, 1994, see section 604(d) of Puspan. L. 104–294, set out as a note under section 13 of this title.

Short Title of 2004 Amendment

Puspan. L. 108–482, title I, § 101, Dec. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 3912, provided that: “This title [amending section 2318 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 2318 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Anti-counterfeiting Amendments Act of 2004’.”

Short Title of 1997 Amendment

Puspan. L. 105–147, § 1, Dec. 16, 1997, 111 Stat. 2678, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 2319 to 2320 of this title, sections 101, 506, and 507 of Title 17, Copyrights, and section 1498 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 994 of Title 28] may be cited as the ‘No Electronic Theft (NET) Act’.”

Short Title of 1996 Amendment

Puspan. L. 104–153, § 1, July 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 1386, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 1961, 2318, and 2320 of this title, sections 1116 and 1117 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, section 603 of Title 17, Copyrights, sections 1431, 1484, and 1526 of Title 19, Customs Duties, and section 80302 of Title 49, Transportation, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 1431 of Title 19] may be cited as the ‘Anticounterfeiting Consumer Protection Act of 1996’.”

Short Title of 1992 Amendment

Puspan. L. 102–519, § 1, Oct. 25, 1992, 106 Stat. 3384, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 2119 and 2322 of this title, sections 2026a to 2026c and 2041 to 2044 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, sections 1646span and 1646c of Title 19, Customs Duties, and sections 3750a to 3750d of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, amending sections 553, 981, 982, 2312, and 2313 of this title, sections 2021 to 2023, 2025, 2027, and 2034 of Title 15, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 2119 of this title, sections 2026a, 2026span, and 2041 of Title 15, and section 1646span of Title 19] may be cited as the ‘Anti Car Theft Act of 1992’.”

Short Title of 1984 Amendments

Puspan. L. 98–547, § 1(a), Oct. 25, 1984, 98 Stat. 2754, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 511, 512, 553, and 2320 [now 2321] of this title, sections 2021 to 2034 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, and section 1627 of Title 19, Customs Duties, amending this section, sections 1961 and 2313 of this title, and section 1901 of Title 15, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 2021 of Title 15] may be cited as the ‘Motor Vehicle Theft Law Enforcement Act of 1984’.”

Puspan. L. 98–473, title II, § 1501, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2178, provided that: “This chapter [chapter XV (§§ 1501–1503) of title II of Puspan. L. 98–473, enacting section 2320 of this title and amending sections 1116, 1117, and 1118 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade] may be cited as the ‘Trademark Counterfeiting Act of 1984’.”

Short Title of 1982 Amendment

Puspan. L. 97–180, § 1, May 24, 1982, 96 Stat. 91, provided: “That this Act [enacting section 2319 of this title and amending section 2318 of this title and section 506 of Title 17, Copyrights] may be cited as the ‘Piracy and Counterfeiting Amendments Act of 1982’.”

Counterfeiting of Trademarked and Copyrighted Merchandise; Congressional Statement of Findings

Puspan. L. 104–153, § 2, July 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 1386, provided that: “The counterfeiting of trademarked and copyrighted merchandise—

“(1) has been connected with organized crime;
“(2) deprives legitimate trademark and copyright owners of substantial revenues and consumer goodwill;
“(3) poses health and safety threats to United States consumers;
“(4) eliminates United States jobs; and
“(5) is a multibillion-dollar drain on the United States economy.”

Congressional Declaration of Purpose of 1984 Amendment

Puspan. L. 98–547, § 2, Oct. 25, 1984, 98 Stat. 2754, provided that: “It is the purpose of this Act [see Short Title of 1984 Amendments note above]—

“(1) to provide for the identification of certain motor vehicles and their major replacement parts to impede motor vehicle theft;
“(2) to augment the Federal criminal penalties imposed upon persons trafficking in stolen motor vehicles;
“(3) to encourage decreases in premiums charged consumers for motor vehicle theft insurance; and
“(4) to reduce opportunities for exporting or importing stolen motor vehicles and off-highway mobile equipment.”