Section 1140.

(a) For purposes of this section:

(1) The term "customer" means any individual or entity who causes or caused a molder to fabricate, cast, or otherwise make a die, mold, or form.

(2) The term "molder" means any individual or entity, including, but not limited to, a tool or die maker, who fabricates, casts, or otherwise makes a die, mold, or form.

(3) For purposes of this section, the term "within three years following the last prior use" shall be construed to include any period following the last prior use of a die, mold, or form regardless of whether or not that period precedes the effective date of this section.

(b) In the absence of any agreement to the contrary, the customer shall have all rights and title to any die, mold, or form in the possession of the molder.

(c) If a customer does not claim possession from a molder of a die, mold, or form within three years following the last prior use thereof, all rights and title to any die, mold, or form may be transferred by operation of law to the molder for the purpose of destroying or otherwise disposing of such die, mold, or form, consistent with this section.

(d) If a molder chooses to have all rights and title to any die, mold, or form transferred to the molder by operation of law, the molder shall send written notice by registered mail to the chief executive officer of the customer or, if the customer is not a business entity, to the customer himself or herself at the customer's last known address indicating that the molder intends to terminate the customer's rights and title by having all such rights and title transferred to the molder by operation of law pursuant to this section.

(e) If a customer does not respond in person or by mail to claim possession of the particular die, mold, or form within 120 days following the date the notice was sent, or does not make other contractual arrangements with the molder for storage thereof, all rights and title of the customer shall transfer by operation of law to the molder. Thereafter, the molder may destroy or otherwise dispose of the particular mold, tool, or die as the molder's own property without any risk of liability to the customer, except that this section shall not be construed in any manner to affect any right of the customer, under federal patent or copyright law or any state or federal law pertaining to unfair competition.

(Amended by Stats. 1981, Ch. 290, Sec. 1.)