Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 345
Property mark
(1) A mark used for denoting that movable property belongs to a particular person is called a property mark.
(2) Whoever marks any movable property or goods or any case, package or other receptacle containing movable property or goods, or uses any case, package or other receptacle having any mark thereon, in a manner reasonably calculated to cause it to be believed that the property or goods so marked, or any property or goods contained in any such receptacle so marked, belong to a person to whom they do not belong, is said to use a false property mark.
(3) Whoever uses any false property mark shall, unless he proves that he acted without intent to defraud, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
Why this exists
Property marks help identify ownership of goods, especially in trade, shipping, and commerce, allowing buyers, sellers, and authorities to trust that marked goods truly belong to whoever the mark indicates. This section protects that trust by punishing the deliberate use of false marks meant to misrepresent true ownership, while allowing an honest defence for those who can show they had no intention to defraud.