132.04 Filing, publication and cancellation of description; fees.

(1) Any person who is the owner of cans, tubs, firkins, boxes, bottles, casks, barrels, kegs, cartons, tanks, fountains, vessels or containers with his or her names, brands, designs, trademarks, devices or other marks of ownership stamped, impressed, labeled, blown in or otherwise marked thereon, may file with the department and record with the register of deeds of any county in which the person has his or her principal place of business, a written statement or description verified by affidavit of the owner or his or her agent, of the names, brands, designs, trademarks, devices or other marks of ownership used by him or her, and of the articles upon which they are used, or if the principal place of business is outside the state, then a written statement or verified description may be recorded with the register of deeds of any county. The statement shall be published as a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, in the county, and a copy of the publication, proved as provided in s. 985.12, shall also be filed with the department and recorded with the register of deeds.

(2) All such written statements or descriptions and all such certificates of publication so filed or recorded shall be subject at all reasonable hours to public inspection. The department and the register of deeds shall deliver to all applicants certified copies of all such written statements or descriptions or names, brands, designs, trademarks, devices, or other marks of ownership and of all certificates of publication filed or recorded with them and such certified copies shall be admissible in evidence in all prosecutions under ss. 132.04 to 132.08, and shall be prima facie evidence that this section has been complied with, and of the title of the owner named therein to the property upon which the name, brand, design, trademark, device, or other marks of ownership of the owner appear as described therein.

(3) The department shall receive a fee of $15 and the register of deeds shall receive the fee specified in s. 59.43 (2) (ag) or (e) for each statement and certificate of publication filed or recorded and shall also receive the fee specified in s. 59.43 (2) (b) for each certified copy of such statement and certificate of publication, to be paid for by the person filing, recording or applying for the same.

(4)

(a) The department and register of deeds shall cancel a statement or description under this section upon the request of the person named in the records of the department or register of deeds as the owner of marks of ownership described in the statement or description.

(b) The department and register of deeds may not charge a fee for canceling a statement or description under par. (a).

History: 1989 a. 91, 123; 1993 a. 301; 1995 a. 201; 2011 a. 32.