Chapter 100

100.195(1)(a) (a) “Bill” means to represent to any consumer, directly or by implication, that the consumer is obligated to pay a stated amount for consumer goods or services. “Bill” includes to refer a payment to a collection agency or to make a statement representing that a payment obligation has been or may be referred to a collection agency or credit reporting agency.

100.195(1)(b) (b) “Consumer” means an individual to whom a seller sells or leases, or offers to sell or lease, consumer goods or services at retail.

100.195(1)(c) (c) “Consumer goods or services” means goods or services that are used or intended for use for personal, family, or household purposes. “Consumer goods or services” does not include any of the following:

100.195(1)(c)1. 1. The treatment of disease, as defined in s. 448.01 (2), by a health care provider, as defined in s. 155.01 (7), or the provision of emergency medical care.

100.195(1)(c)2. 2. Telecommunications services or television services.

100.195(1)(c)3. 3. Goods or services whose delivery is required by law even though the consumer has not agreed to purchase or lease those goods or services.

100.195(1)(c)4. 4. The sale or lease of a motor vehicle by a licensed motor vehicle dealer, as defined in s. 218.0101 (23) (a).

100.195(1)(c)5. 5. Services provided pursuant to an attorney-client relationship.

100.195(1)(d) (d) “Delivery” means transferring to a consumer’s custody or making available for use by a consumer.

100.195(1)(e) (e) “Disclosure” means a clear and conspicuous statement that is designed to be readily noticed and understood by the consumer.

100.195(1)(f) (f) “Seller” means a seller or lessor of consumer goods or services, and includes any employee, agent, or representative acting on behalf of the seller.

100.195(1)(g) (g) “Telecommunications service” has the meaning given in s. 196.01 (9m).

100.195(1)(h) (h) “Television service” means all of the following:

100.195(1)(h)1. 1. Video service, as defined in s. 66.0420 (2) (y).

100.195(1)(h)2. 2. Services billed to consumers by a multichannel video programming distributor as defined under 47 USC 522 (13).

100.195(2) (2) Prohibitions. No seller may:

100.195(2)(a) (a) Bill a consumer for consumer goods or services that the consumer has not agreed to purchase or lease.

100.195(2)(b) (b) Bill a consumer for consumer goods or services at a price that is higher than a price previously agreed upon between the seller and consumer unless the consumer agrees to the higher price before the seller bills the consumer. This paragraph does not prohibit a seller from increasing the price of goods or services under a sale or lease agreement of indefinite duration if the seller gives the consumer reasonable disclosure of the proposed increase and the opportunity to cancel the agreement without penalty at or before the time of a delivery at the increased price. If a seller proposes an increased price at the time of a delivery of goods or services and the consumer elects to cancel the agreement, the seller shall pay the costs of returning the goods or services.

100.195(2)(c) (c) Bill a consumer for a delivery of consumer goods or services that the seller initiates under an agreement that is no longer in effect when the seller initiates the delivery.

100.195(2)(d) (d) Offer a consumer a prize or prize opportunity or free or reduced-price goods or services, the acceptance of which commits the consumer to receive or pay for other consumer goods or services, unless the seller makes a disclosure of that commitment at or before the time the consumer agrees to purchase the goods or services.

100.195(2)(e) (e) Misrepresent to a consumer, directly or by implication, that the consumer’s failure to reject or return a delivery of consumer goods or services that was not authorized by the consumer constitutes an acceptance that obligates the consumer to pay for those goods or services.

100.195(3) (3) Exceptions.

100.195(3)(a) (a) Subsection (2) does not apply to the conduct of an agent or representative of a seller when providing billing services if the agent or representative did not know or have reason to know that its conduct violates sub. (2).

100.195(3)(b) (b) Subsection (2) (a) and (b) do not apply to any of the following:

100.195(3)(b)1. 1. A negative option plan, as defined in 16 CFR 425.1, if the negative option plan meets the requirements of 16 CFR 425.1.

100.195(3)(b)2. 2. A contractual plan or arrangement under which a seller, on a periodic basis, ships a similar type of goods to a consumer who has consented in advance to receive the goods on a periodic basis, if the plan or arrangement does not impose a binding commitment period or require a minimum purchase amount.

100.195(4) (4) Acceptance of free goods or services. For purposes of sub. (2), the acceptance of free goods or services does not, of itself, constitute an agreement to purchase or lease the goods or services.

100.195(5m) (5m) Penalties and remedies.

100.195(5m)(a) (a) The department may exercise its authority under ss. 93.14 and 93.15 to investigate violations of this section.

100.195(5m)(b) (b) Any person suffering pecuniary loss because of a violation of this section may commence an action to recover the pecuniary loss. If the person prevails, the person shall recover twice the amount of the pecuniary loss, or $200 for each violation, whichever is greater, together with costs, including reasonable attorney fees.

100.195(5m)(c) (c) The department may commence an action in the name of the state to restrain by temporary or permanent injunction a violation of this section. Before entry of final judgment, the court may make any necessary orders to restore to a person any pecuniary loss suffered by the person because of the violation.

100.195(5m)(d) (d) The department or a district attorney may commence an action in the name of the state to recover a forfeiture to the state of not less than $100 nor more than $10,000 for each violation of this section.

100.195(5m)(e) (e) A person who violates this section is subject to a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $5,000 or imprisonment not to exceed one year or both for each violation.

100.195 History History: 2005 a. 458; 2007 a. 42.

100.197 100.197 Patent notifications.

100.197(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

100.197(1)(a) (a) “Patent notification” means a letter, e-mail, or other written communication attempting in any manner to enforce or assert rights in connection with a patent or pending patent.

100.197(1)(b) (b) “Target” means a person who meets at least one of the conditions described in s. 801.05 (1) (b), (c), and (d) and satisfies at least one of the following:

100.197(1)(b)1. 1. The person has received a patent notification.

100.197(1)(b)2. 2. One or more of the person’s customers has received a patent notification concerning a product, service, process, or technology of the person.

100.197(2) (2) Patent notification requirements.

100.197(2)(a) (a) A patent notification shall contain all of the following:

100.197(2)(a)1. 1. The number of each patent or patent application that is the subject of the patent notification.

100.197(2)(a)2. 2. A physical or electronic copy of each patent or pending patent.

100.197(2)(a)3. 3. The name and physical address of the owner of each patent or pending patent and all other persons having a right to enforce the patent or pending patent.

100.197(2)(a)4. 4. An identification of each claim of each patent or pending patent being asserted and the target’s product, service, process, or technology to which that claim relates.

100.197(2)(a)5. 5. Factual allegations and an analysis setting forth in detail the person’s theory of each claim identified under subd. 4., if any, and how that claim relates to the target’s product, service, process, or technology.

100.197(2)(a)6. 6. An identification of each pending or completed court or administrative proceeding, including any proceeding before the U.S. patent and trademark office, concerning each patent or pending patent.

100.197(2)(b) (b) A patent notification may not contain false, misleading, or deceptive information.

100.197(2)(c) (c)

100.197(2)(c)1. 1. If a patent notification lacks any of the information required under par. (a), the target may notify the person who made the patent notification that the patent notification is incomplete.

100.197(2)(c)2. 2. Within 30 days after the date on which a target notifies a person under subd. 1., the person shall provide the target with the information required under par. (a) that is necessary to complete the patent notification.

100.197(3) (3) Enforcement and remedies.

100.197(3)(a) (a)

100.197(3)(a)1. 1. The department or the attorney general may investigate an alleged violation of sub. (2) (b) or (c) 2.

100.197(3)(a)2. 2. The attorney general may commence an action in the name of the state to restrain by temporary or permanent injunction a violation of sub. (2) (b) or to compel a person who has violated sub. (2) (c) 2. with respect to a target to provide the target with the information specified in sub. (2) (c) 2. Before entry of final judgment in an action commenced under this subdivision, the court may make any necessary orders to restore to any person any pecuniary loss the person has suffered because of the violation of sub. (2) (b) or (c) 2.

100.197(3)(a)3. 3. The attorney general may commence an action in the name of the state to recover a forfeiture to the state of not more than $50,000 for each violation of sub. (2) (b) or (c) 2.

100.197(3)(b) (b) A target or other person aggrieved because of a violation of sub. (2) (b) or (c) 2. may commence an action for the following:

100.197(3)(b)1. 1. A temporary or permanent injunction restraining a violation of sub. (2) (b) or compelling a person who has violated sub. (2) (c) 2. with respect to a target to provide the target with the information specified in sub. (2) (c) 2.

100.197(3)(b)2. 2. An appropriate award of damages.

100.197(3)(b)3. 3. The person’s costs and, notwithstanding the limitations under s. 814.04 (1), reasonable attorney fees.

100.197(3)(b)4. 4. An award of punitive damages not to exceed $50,000 for each violation or 3 times the aggregate amount awarded for all violations under subds. 2. and 3., whichever is greater.

100.197(3)(c) (c) Each patent notification that violates sub. (2) (b) or is the subject of a violation of sub. (2) (c) 2. is a separate violation.

100.197(4) (4) Exemptions. Subsection (2) does not apply to any of the following:

100.197(4)(a) (a) A patent notification of an institution of higher education or of a technology transfer organization that is owned, controlled, or operated by, or associated with, an institution of higher education.

100.197(4)(ag) (ag) A patent notification of a health care or research institution that has annual expenditures of at least $10,000,000 and that receives federal funding.

100.197(4)(ar) (ar) A patent notification of an organization that is owned, controlled, or operated by an institution specified in par. (ag).

100.197(4)(b) (b) A patent notification attempting to enforce or assert a right in connection with a patent or pending patent on a device, or a component of that device, that is subject to approval by the federal food and drug administration or the federal department of agriculture.

100.197(4)(c) (c) A patent notification attempting to enforce or assert a right arising under 35 USC 271 (e) (2) or 42 USC 262.

100.197(5) (5) No limitation of rights and remedies under other law. Nothing in this section may be construed to limit rights and remedies available to the state or any person under any other law.

100.197 History History: 2013 a. 339.

100.20 100.20 Methods of competition and trade practices.

100.20(1) (1) Methods of competition in business and trade practices in business shall be fair. Unfair methods of competition in business and unfair trade practices in business are hereby prohibited.

100.20(1m) (1m) It is an unfair trade method of competition in business to represent the retailing of merchandise to be a selling-out or closing-out sale if the merchandise is not of a bankrupt, insolvent, assignee, liquidator, adjuster, trustee, personal representative, receiver, wholesaler, jobber, manufacturer, or of any business that is in liquidation, that is closing out, closing, or disposing of its stock, that has lost its lease or has been or is being forced out of business, or that is disposing of stock on hand because of damage by fire, water, or smoke. This subsection does not apply to any “closing-out sale” of seasonal merchandise or any merchandise having a designated model year if the person conducting the sale is continuing in business.

100.20(1n) (1n) It is an unfair method of competition or an unfair trade practice for any person to sell cigarettes to consumers in this state in violation of s. 139.345.

100.20(1r) (1r) It is an unfair method of competition in business or an unfair trade practice for a person who sells new motor vehicles to compare new motor vehicle selling prices, including the offered prices or the actual sale prices, to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for that vehicle unless it is clearly and conspicuously disclosed that the latter price is a manufacturer’s suggested retail price and may not represent actual sale prices.

100.20(1t) (1t) It is an unfair trade practice for a person to provide any service which the person has the ability to withhold that facilitates or promotes an unfair method of competition in business, an unfair trade practice in business, or any other activity which is a violation of this chapter.

100.20(1v) (1v) It is an unfair method of competition in business or an unfair trade practice for a person or business entity to violate s. 100.70 (1).

100.20(2) (2) 

100.20(2)(a) (a) The department, after public hearing, may issue general orders forbidding methods of competition in business or trade practices in business which are determined by the department to be unfair. The department, after public hearing, may issue general orders prescribing methods of competition in business or trade practices in business which are determined by the department to be fair.

100.20(2)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), the department may not issue any order or promulgate any rule that regulates the provision of water or sewer service by a manufactured home community operator, as defined in s. 101.91 (8), or manufactured home community contractor, as defined in s. 101.91 (6m), or enforce any rule to the extent that the rule regulates the provision of such water or sewer service.

100.20(3) (3) The department, after public hearing, may issue a special order against any person, enjoining such person from employing any method of competition in business or trade practice in business which is determined by the department to be unfair or from providing service in violation of sub. (1t). The department, after public hearing, may issue a special order against any person, requiring such person to employ the method of competition in business or trade practice in business which is determined by the department to be fair.

100.20(4) (4) The department of justice may file a written complaint with the department alleging that the person named is employing unfair methods of competition in business or unfair trade practices in business or both. Whenever such a complaint is filed it shall be the duty of the department to proceed, after proper notice and in accordance with its rules, to the hearing and adjudication of the matters alleged, and a representative of the department of justice designated by the attorney general may appear before the department in such proceedings. The department of justice shall be entitled to judicial review of the decisions and orders of the department under ch. 227.

100.20(5) (5) Any person suffering pecuniary loss because of a violation by any other person of s. 100.70 or any order issued under this section may sue for damages therefor in any court of competent jurisdiction and shall recover twice the amount of such pecuniary loss, together with costs, including a reasonable attorney fee.

100.20(6) (6) The department may commence an action in circuit court in the name of the state to restrain by temporary or permanent injunction the violation of s. 100.70 or any order issued under this section. The court may in its discretion, prior to entry of final judgment make such orders or judgments as may be necessary to restore to any person any pecuniary loss suffered because of the acts or practices involved in the action, provided proof thereof is submitted to the satisfaction of the court. The department may use its authority in ss. 93.14 and 93.15 to investigate violations of s. 100.70 or any order issued under this section.

100.20 History History: 1975 c. 308; 1985 a. 284; 1993 a. 158, 496; 1997 a. 229; 2001 a. 16, 102; 2003 a. 326; 2005 a. 25, 45; 2017 a. 73.

100.20 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 136.001 (2) concerning future service plans.

100.20 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. ATCP 102, 109, 113, 114, 117, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 127, 128, 131, 132, 134, 136, and 139, Wis. adm. code.

100.20 Annotation Department of Agriculture rules prohibiting a chain distributor scheme are valid. Unfair practices that may be prohibited are not limited to those affecting competitors. HM Distributors of Milwaukee, Inc. v. Department of Agriculture, 55 Wis. 2d 261, 198 N.W.2d 598 (1972).