Michigan Compiled Laws
Act 331 of 1976 - Michigan Consumer Protection Act (445.901 - 445.922)
Section 445.902 - Definitions.

Sec. 2.
(1) As used in this act:
(a) Subject to subsection (2), "business opportunity" means the sale or lease of any products, equipment, supplies, or services for the purpose of enabling the purchaser to start a business, and in which the seller represents 1 or more of the following:
(i) That the seller will provide locations or assist the purchaser in finding locations for the use or operation of vending machines, racks, display cases, or other similar devices, or currency operated amusement machines or devices, on premises neither owned nor leased by the purchaser or seller.
(ii) That the seller may, in the ordinary course of business, purchase any or all products made, produced, fabricated, grown, bred, or modified by the purchaser using whole or in part the supplies, services, or chattels sold to the purchaser.
(iii) The seller guarantees that the purchaser will derive income from the business opportunity that exceeds the price paid for the business opportunity; or that the seller will refund all or part of the price paid for the business opportunity, or repurchase any of the products, equipment, supplies, or chattels supplied by the seller, if the purchaser is unsatisfied with the business opportunity. As used in this subparagraph, "guarantee" means a written or oral representation that would cause a reasonable person in the purchaser's position to believe that income is assured.
(iv) That the seller will provide a sales program or marketing program which will enable the purchaser to derive income from the business opportunity that exceeds the price paid for the business opportunity. This subparagraph does not apply to the sale of a marketing program made in conjunction with the licensing of a federally registered trademark or a federally registered service mark, or to the sale of a business opportunity for which the purchaser pays less than $500.00 in total for the business opportunity from any time before the date of sale to any time within 6 months after the date of sale.
(b) "Documentary material" includes the original or copy of a book, record, report, memorandum, paper, communication, tabulation, map, chart, photograph, mechanical transcription, or other tangible document or recording, wherever situated.
(c) "Performing group" means a vocal or instrumental group seeking to use the name of another group that has previously released a commercial sound recording under that name.
(d) "Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, trust, partnership, incorporated or unincorporated association, or other legal entity.
(e) "Recording group" means a vocal or instrumental group that meets both of the following:
(i) At least 1 of the members of the group has previously released a commercial sound recording under the group's name.
(ii) At least 1 of the members of the group has a legal right to use the group's name, by virtue of use or operation under the group's name without abandoning the name of or affiliation with the group.
(f) "Sound recording" means a work that results from the fixation on a material object of a series of musical, spoken, or other sounds regardless of the nature of the material object, such as a disk, tape, or other phono-record, in which the sounds are embodied.
(g) "Trade or commerce" means the conduct of a business providing goods, property, or service primarily for personal, family, or household purposes and includes the advertising, solicitation, offering for sale or rent, sale, lease, or distribution of a service or property, tangible or intangible, real, personal, or mixed, or any other article, or a business opportunity. "Trade or commerce" does not include the purchase or sale of a franchise, as defined in section 2 of the franchise investment law, 1974 PA 269, MCL 445.1502, but does include a pyramid promotional scheme as defined in section 2 of the pyramid promotional scheme act, MCL 445.2582.
(2) As used in this act, "business opportunity" does not include a sale of a franchise as defined in section 2 of the franchise investment law, 1974 PA 269, MCL 445.1502, or the sale of an ongoing business if the owner of the business sells and intends to sell only that single business opportunity.
History: 1976, Act 331, Eff. Apr. 1, 1977 ;-- Am. 1984, Act 91, Imd. Eff. Apr. 20, 1984 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 508, Imd. Eff. Dec. 29, 2006 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 189, Eff. Sept. 11, 2018

Structure Michigan Compiled Laws

Michigan Compiled Laws

Chapter 445 - Trade and Commerce

Act 331 of 1976 - Michigan Consumer Protection Act (445.901 - 445.922)

Section 445.901 - Short Title.

Section 445.902 - Definitions.

Section 445.903 - Unfair, Unconscionable, or Deceptive Methods, Acts, or Practices in Conduct of Trade or Commerce; Rules; Applicability of Subsection (1)(hh).

Section 445.903a - Home Appliance; Contents of Service Contract.

Section 445.903b - Failure of Seller to File Notice Unlawful; Form and Contents of Notice; Notice of Change in Information; Reference to MCL 445.903 Includes Reference to This Section.

Section 445.903c - Advertising or Listing in Telephone Directory; Misrepresenting Name or Location Prohibited; Violation; Penalty; Applicability to Telephone Service Provider, Publisher, or Distributor.

Section 445.903d - Advertising or Listing in Telephone Directory; Misrepresenting Name or Location Prohibited; Violation; Penalty; Applicability to Telephone Service Provider, Publisher, or Distributor.

Section 445.903e - Issuance of Gift Certificate; Prohibited Conduct; Definitions.

Section 445.903f - Possession or Use of Gift Certificate; Charging Service Fee Prohibited; "Service Fee" Defined.

Section 445.903g - Expiration of Gift Certificate; Limitation.

Section 445.903h - Vehicle Rental Transaction; Inclusion of Vehicle License Cost Recovery Fee; Amount; Fee in Excess of Costs; Duties of Car Rental Company; Definitions.

Section 445.903i - Ownership or Operation of Clothing Donation Box; Definitions.

Section 445.903k - Providing, Offering, or Receiving Compensation for Providing or Offering of Veterans' Benefit Service; Advertising or Promoting Event Regarding Veterans' Pension or Medical Benefits; Limitations; Definitions.

Section 445.903l - Third-Party Delivery Service; Prohibition on Use of Likeness, Trademark, or Other Property of Restaurant; Written Agreement; Definitions.

Section 445.903m - Online State Services by Unaffiliated Third Party; Requirements.

Section 445.903n - Definitions for MCL 445.903o.

Section 445.903o - Regulation and Verification of Online Marketplace and Third-Party Sellers; Information for Consumers; Requirements; Failure to Comply; Suspension; Enforcement.

Section 445.904 - Exemptions; Burden of Proof.

Section 445.905 - Action to Restrain Defendant by Temporary or Permanent Injunction; Venue; Costs; Civil Penalty; Notice to Defendant; Notice to Attorney General; Violation of Injunction, Order, Decree, or Judgment; Civil Fine; Retention of Jurisdict...

Section 445.906 - Assurance of Discontinuance of Method, Act, or Practice.

Section 445.907 - Subpoena; Notice; Confidentiality; Penalty.

Section 445.908 - Compliance With Notice; Conduct Requiring Assessment of Civil Penalty; Petition for Order to Enforce Compliance; Violation of Final Order; Injunction.

Section 445.909 - Publication, Public Inspection and Copying, and Distribution of Rules, Final Judgments, Assurance of Discontinuance, and Other Matters; Request; Fee.

Section 445.909a - List of Consumer Complaints.

Section 445.910 - Class Action by Attorney General for Actual Damages; Order; Hearing; Receiver; Sequestration of Assets; Cost of Notice; Limitations.

Section 445.911 - Action by Person for Declaratory Judgment, Injunction, or Actual Damages; Class Action by Person for Actual Damages; Order; Hearing; Receiver; Sequestration of Assets; Cost of Notice; Limitations.

Section 445.912 - Mailing Copy of Complaint, Judgment, Decree, or Order to Attorney General; Violation of Injunction as Evidence.

Section 445.913 - Filing Fees for Commencing Action or Filing Voluntary Assurance.

Section 445.914 - Investigation by Law Enforcement Officer.

Section 445.915 - Investigation and Prosecution by Prosecuting Attorney.

Section 445.916 - Other Causes of Action Not Affected; Inconsistent Ordinance or Regulation Prohibited.

Section 445.917 - Investigation of Financial Institutions; Subpoena; Report.

Section 445.918 - Investigation of Public Utilities; Subpoena; Report.

Section 445.919 - Investigation of Certain Persons by Cemetery Commission; Subpoena; Report.

Section 445.920 - Investigation of Certain Persons by Director of Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth; Subpoena; Report.

Section 445.921 - Investigation of Certain Persons by Commissioner of Insurance; Subpoena; Report.

Section 445.922 - Effective Date.