A more thorough explanation:

The Merchandise Marks Acts were laws created in 1887 to prevent the fraudulent marking of merchandise for sale or the sale of merchandise that had been fraudulently marked. This means that it was illegal to put a false label or mark on a product to make it seem like it was something it was not.

For example, if someone tried to sell a shirt with a fake designer label on it, they would be breaking the law under the Merchandise Marks Acts. Similarly, if someone tried to sell a piece of jewelry claiming it was made of gold when it was actually made of a cheaper metal, they would also be breaking the law.

These laws were important because they protected consumers from being tricked into buying products that were not what they seemed. They also helped to ensure fair competition between businesses, as companies could not use false labels or marks to make their products seem better than they actually were.

The Merchandise Marks Acts were eventually repealed in 1968, but similar laws still exist today to protect consumers and ensure fair competition in the marketplace.