---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 299"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "299"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/299"
units:
  - "Chapter 8 — Falsely Stamped Gold or Silver or Goods Manufactured Therefrom"
---

# §299. Definitions

- (a) The expression “article of merchandise” as used in sections [294](/usc/15/294.md) to [300](/usc/15/300.md) of this title shall signify any goods, wares, works of art, commodity, or other thing which may be lawfully kept or offered for sale.
- (b) The term “person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, or any other form of business enterprise, capable of being in violation of sections [294](/usc/15/294.md) to [300](/usc/15/300.md) of this title.
- (c) The term “jewelry trade association” means an organization, consisting primarily of [persons](#b) actively engaged in the jewelry or a related business, the purposes and activities of which are primarily directed to the improvement of business conditions in the jewelry or related businesses.

## Source credit

(June 13, 1906, ch. 3289, § 6, 34 Stat. 262; Pub. L. 91–366, § 1(c), (d), July 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 690.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1970—Pub. L. 91–366 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsecs. (b) and (c).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1970 Amendments

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–366 effective three months after July 31, 1970, see section 4 of Pub. L. 91–366, set out as a note under section 297 of this title.

### Separability

For separability provision of Pub. L. 91–366, see section 2 of Pub. L. 91–366, set out as a note under section 297 of this title.

### Construction of 1970 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–366 to be held to be in addition to and not in substitution for or limitation of the provisions of any other Act of the United States, see section 3 of Pub. L. 91–366, set out as a note under section 297 of this title.