2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 30. Trade and Commerce › Chapter 10. Securities Regulation › Part 3. Offenses, Penalties, and Immunities › 30-10-324. Definitions

30-10-324. Definitions.
As used in 30-10-301, 30-10-324, 30-10-325, and 30-10-327, the following definitions apply:
(1) (a) "Compensation" means the receipt of money, a thing of value or purported value, or a financial benefit.
(b) Compensation does not include:
(i) payments to a participant based on the sale of goods or services by the participant to third persons when the goods or services are purchased for actual use or consumption; or
(ii) payments to a participant based on the sale of goods or services to the participant that are used or consumed by the participant.
(2) (a) "Consideration" means the payment of money, the purchase of goods or services, or the purchase of intangible property.
(b) Consideration does not include:
(i) the purchase of goods or services furnished at cost that are used in making sales and that are not for resale; or
(ii) a participant's time and effort expended in the pursuit of sales or in recruiting activities.
(3) "Direct selling association" means the nonprofit entity incorporated in the state of Delaware and recognized by the department as the direct selling association.
(4) "Multilevel marketing company" means a person that:
(a) sells, distributes, or supplies goods or services through independent agents, contractors, or distributors:
(i) at different levels of distribution; or
(ii) pursuant to a formula for compensating participants in whole or in part based on purchases of sales by or recruitment of other participants;
(b) permits participants to recruit other participants in the company; and
(c) provides for commissions, cross-commissions, override commissions, bonuses, refunds, dividends, or other consideration that is or may be paid as a result of the sale of goods or services or the recruitment of or the performance or actions of other participants.
(5) "Participant" means a person involved in a sales plan or operation.
(6) "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other business entity.
(7) (a) "Pyramid promotional scheme" means a sales plan or operation in which a participant gives consideration for the opportunity to receive compensation derived primarily from obtaining the participation of other persons in the sales plan or operation rather than from the sale of goods or services by the participant or the other persons induced to participate in the sales plan or operation by the participant.
(b) A pyramid promotional scheme includes a Ponzi scheme, in which a person makes payments to investors from anything of value, including anything of purported value, obtained from later investors, rather than from any profits or other income of an underlying or purported underlying business venture.
(c) A pyramid promotional scheme does not include a sales plan or operation that:
(i) subject to the provisions of subsection (7)(c)(iv), provides compensation to a participant based primarily on the sale of goods or services by the participant, including goods or services used or consumed by the participant or other participants, and not primarily for obtaining the participation of other persons in the sales plan or operation;
(ii) does not require a participant to purchase goods or services in an amount that unreasonably exceeds an amount that can be expected to be resold or consumed within a reasonable period of time;
(iii) (A) provides each person joining the sales plan or operation with a written agreement containing or a written statement describing the material terms of participating in the sales plan or operation;
(B) allows a person at least 15 days to cancel the person's participation in the sales plan or operation; and
(C) provides that if the person cancels participation within the time provided and returns any items given to the person to assist in marketing goods or services under the plan, the person is entitled to a refund of any consideration given to participate in the sales plan or operation; and
(iv) (A) on the request of a participant deciding to terminate participation in the sales plan or operation, provides for the repurchase, at not less than 90% of the amount paid by the participant, of any currently marketable goods or services sold to the participant within 12 months of the request that have not been resold or consumed by the participant; and
(B) if disclosed to the participant at the time of purchase, provides that goods or services are not considered currently marketable if the goods have been consumed or the services rendered or if the goods or services are seasonal, discontinued, or special promotional items. Sales plan or operation promotional materials, sales aids, and sales kits are subject to the provisions of this subsection (7)(c)(v) if they are a required purchase for the participant or if the participant has received or may receive a financial benefit from their purchase.
(8) "Transacting business" means to directly or indirectly:
(a) offer, sell, distribute, or supply goods or services through independent agents, contractors, or distributors at different levels of distribution; or
(b) recruit or attempt to recruit participants in a multilevel marketing company.
History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 74, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 322, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 446, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 51, Ch. 2, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 286, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 318, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 104, L. 2019.