Our APW Seal ๐ณ program ๐บ is one ๐ค๐ฌ aspect ๐ of a larger ๐ anti-piracy effort ๐ช๐ป. The FBI ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ, both independently ๐บ๐ธ๐ and through its partnership ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ซ with other federal ๐ฎ agencies ๐ต๏ธโโ๏ธ and the National ๐บ Intellectual ๐๐ Property ๐ก Rights ๐ Coordination ๐ฆ Center โญ (IPR Center ๐ขโ), is currently ๐ฐ working ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ช to increase โคด public ๐โฑ๐ณ awareness ๐ of the issues โ ๐ฟ related ๐ป๐ข to copyright piracy โต๐โ and other intellectual ๐ฉ property ๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ปโฝ theft ๐ต.
Intellectual ๐๐ property ๐ก rights ๐ theft ๐ค is not a victimless crime ๐ซ๐. Because of piracy โต๐โ of media ๐ฆ and other commercial ๐ฐ goods ๐๐๐พ, U.S ๐จ๐. businesses ๐ธ lose ๐ millions โก of dollars ๐ต each year ๐โฑ, threatening โ American ๐ฝ jobs ๐ผ and negatively โ impacting the economy ๐ต. Not only can the violation ๐ฟ of intellectual ๐ฉ property ๐ก๐ rights โ damage ๐ฅ the economy ๐ค๐ต, it also ๐จ poses ๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ป serious ๐ health ๐ฅ and safety ๐ท๐ป๐ risks ๐ to consumers ๐, and often ๐ฐ times โฐ, it fuels ๐ global ๐ organized crime ๐ซ๐. The FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐, along ๐บ๐ with the U.S ๐บ๐ธ. Attorneyโs Offices ๐ข, has made ๐ investigating ๐ and preventing ๐ซ intellectual ๐๐ property ๐ก theft ๐ค๐ฏโฝ a top ๐ผ priority ๐ within ๐
ฐ the Bureau ๐บ๐ธ. Violating โ these laws โ by reproducing or distributing copyrighted ๐ work ๐ข, with or without ๐ซ monetary ๐ฐ gain ๐, is investigated ๐ by the FBI ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ and punishable ๐จ by fines ๐ฐ๐ฆ and federal ๐ฎโโ๏ธ๐๐ฎโโ๏ธ imprisonment.
For years ๐, the FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ has actively ๐๐ป worked ๐ข to help ๐ deter piracy ๐ขโ๐ฃ of intellectual ๐ฉ property ๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ปโฝ. In December ๐
2003 ๐๐๐, the Bureau ๐บ๐ธ authorized ๐ the use ๐ป of the Anti-Piracy Warning โผ Seal ๐ณ through Memoranda of Understanding ๐ค (MOU โณ) with entertainment ๐ and software ๐โบ industry ๐ญ associations ๐ค. By August ๐ 2006 ๐, the FBI ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ had executed ๐จ๐ฝ๐ซ๐ MOUs with five ๐ฅ associations ๐ค, specifically ๐ the Motion ๐ฃ Picture ๐ผ๐จ๐ธ Association ๐ of America ๐บ๐ธ (MPAA), the Recording ๐ Industry ๐จ Association ๐ of America ๐บ๐ธ (RIAA), the Software ๐ป & Information ๐ Industry ๐ญ Association ๐ค (SIIA), the Business ๐ธ Software ๐ป๐จ Alliance ๐ค (BSA), and the Entertainment ๐ฝ๐ Software ๐ฟ Association ๐ (ESA). The MOUs required ๐โ
each associationโs members ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ท, or authorized โ
parties ๐, to execute ๐ต๐ช a formal ๐ด agreement ๐๐ป prior ๐ to using ๐ป๐คณ the APW Seal ๐ณ. These agreements ๐, which allow โ
๐ฏ other uses ๐ป of the APW Seal โ๐ณ by these associations ๐, remain ๐ฐ๐ in place ๐. The new ๐๐ regulation ๐บ allows โ
all ๐ฏ copyright
holders ๐ to use ๐ป the APW Seal ๐ณ without ๐ซ executing ๐ written ๐ agreements ๐ with the FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ or an industry ๐ญ association ๐.
A last ๐ซโฟ word ๐ to the wise ๐: Use ๐ of the APW Seal โ๐ณ in a manner ๐ inconsistent with 41 ๐ฅ CFR ยง 128-1.5009 constitutes ๐ an unauthorized ๐ค use ๐๐ป of an official ๐ข FBI ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ insignia. Unauthorized ๐ค uses ๐ of official ๐ข FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ insignia, including ๐จ the APW Seal ๐ช๐ณ, may ๐ violate ๐ซ federal ๐ฎโโ๏ธ๐๐ฎโโ๏ธ law ๐ฎ, specifically ๐ Section ๐ฆ 701 of Title ๐คญ๐คค๐ 18 ๐ of the United ๐บ๐ธ States ๐บ๐ธ Code ๐ป. Additionally โโ, use ๐ of the FBIโs name ๐ or initials ๐ต to indicate โ FBI ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ approval โ
, endorsement โข, or authorization, is governed ๐ by Sections ๐ฆ 709 and 712 of Title ๐ค 18 ๐ of the United ๐บ๐ธ States ๐ Code ๐ป. Violations ๐โ๐ซ of these provisions ๐ฅ may ๐ result ๐๐ฏ in fines ๐ฐ๐ฆ or imprisonment.
A Note ๐ on ๐ Fair โญ Use ๐
The FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ recognizes ๐๐บ that the fair โญ use ๐ป of copyrighted ๐ materials ๐, as codified in Title ๐ค 17 ๐, United ๐บ๐ธ States ๐บ๐ธ Code ๐ฑ, section ๐ผ๐๐ฅ 107, does not constitute ๐ copyright infringement โผ. The APW Seal ๐ณ is not intended ๐คก to discourage fair ๐๐ uses ๐ป of copyrighted ๐ materials ๐ that are consistent โ
with U.S ๐จ. law โ. More information ๐ about ๐ฆ copyright law โ and fair ๐ use ๐ป is available ๐ข from The Library ๐ of Congress ๐ฉ, U.S ๐จ. Copyright Office ๐ฝ at www.copyright.gov.
However ๐, it has come ๐ฆ to the FBIโs attention ๐จ that โFair Use ๐ Warningsโ accompanied ๐ค by an image ๐ผ of the official ๐ฝ FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ Seal ๐ณ (or similar ๐ฑ insignia) have been posted ๐ฒ on ๐ various ๐ค๐ง websites ๐ฅ๐ป๐ฑ, giving ๐ the appearance ๐ that the FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ has created ๐จ๐จ or authorized โ
these notices ๐ฏ to advise ๐ซ the public ๐ about ๐ฆ the fair ๐๐ use ๐ป doctrine in U.S ๐บ๐ธ. copyright law ๐ฎ. These warnings โผโ are not authorized ๐ or endorsed by the FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐.
Conditions ๐ and Prohibitions ๐ซ Regarding Use ๐ of the FBI ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ Anti-Piracy Warning โผ (APW) Seal โ๐ณ
The following ๐ฃ conditions ๐ฑโโ๏ธ of use ๐ป are specified ๐ in 41 ๐ฐ CFR Section ๐ผ๐๐ฅ 128-1.5009(e):
The APW Seal ๐ณ shall ๐ only be used ๐ถ on ๐ copyrighted ๐ works ๐ผ subject ๐ to protection ๐กโ under โฌ U.S ๐บ๐ธ. Criminal ๐๐ซ Code ๐ฑ provisions ๐ฅ such as those in Title ๐ 18 ๐, U.S ๐จ. Code ๐ฑ, Sections ๐ผ๐๐ฅ 2319, 2319A, and 2319B.The APW Seal ๐ณ shall ๐๐ only be used โฆ immediately ๐ค adjacent to the authorized ๐ warning โผ language ๐ฌ๐ค๐ฃ. โAuthorized warning โผ languageโ refers ๐๐๐ to the language ๐ฌ๐ค๐ฃ set ๐๐ forth ๐ below โฌ in paragraph ๐๐๐ (a) of this section ๐ผ๐๐ฅ, or alternative โป language โ๐ฃ๐ specifically ๐ authorized ๐ in writing ๐ for this purpose ๐ by the Director โก of the FBI ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ or his ๐ฆ or her ๐ฉ designee and posted ๐ on ๐ the FBIโs official ๐ขโผ public ๐๐๐ฆ Internet ๐ป website ๐ฅ (http://www.fbi.gov). Except ๐ฎ as authorized ๐ pursuant ๐ฃ to paragraph ๐๐ (1 ๐) of the prohibitions ๐ฎ regarding use ๐ป of the APW Seal ๐ณ, the APW Seal ๐ณ and authorized ๐ warning โผ language ๐ช๐ธ shall ๐ be enclosed by a plain ๐ฑ๐ฟโ box ๐ฆ border ๐บ๐ธ๐ at all ๐ฏ times โฐ that other text ๐ฒ or images ๐ธ appear ๐ on ๐ the same screen ๐บ or page ๐.
The unauthorized ๐ค reproduction ๐ผ๐ฆ or distribution ๐ of a copyrighted ๐ work ๐ผ is illegal ๐. Criminal ๐ซ๐ copyright infringement ๐ข, including ๐ฒ infringement ๐บ๐ธ without โ monetary ๐ฐ gain ๐๏ธโโ๏ธ๐, is investigated ๐ by the FBI ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ and is punishable ๐จ by fines ๐ฐ๐ฆ and federal ๐ imprisonment.The APW Seal โ๐ณ image ๐ผ๐ must ๐ซ be obtained ๐ from the FBIโs official ๐ข public ๐โฑ๐ณ Internet ๐ป website ๐ฅ๐ฐ (http://www.fbi.gov). The APW Seal ๐ณ image ๐ผ shall ๐ not be animated ๐ or altered ๐ except ๐ฎ that it may ๐ be rendered ๐พ in outline ๐, black โฌ and white ๐ณ๐
๐ผ, or grayscale.
In programming ๐ or reproducing the APW Seal ๐ณ in or on ๐ a work ๐ผ๐, users ๐
are encouraged ๐๐ป to employ ๐ผ๐๐ฅ industry-recognized copyright anti-circumvention or copy ๐โ protection ๐ก techniques ๐งโ to discourage copying ๐ of the FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ APW Seal โ๐ณ, except ๐ฎ that such techniques ๐งโ need ๐ not be used โฆ if no โ๐ซ other content ๐ or advertising โ programmed ๐จโ๐ป into the same work ๐ผ on ๐ the same media ๐โโต utilizes ๐ซ such copyright anti-circumvention or copy ๐๐ฝ protection ๐ณ๏ธโ๐๐ก techniques ๐ก.
Prohibitions ๐ฎ Regarding Use ๐ป of the APW SealThe following ๐ธ prohibitions ๐ฎ are specified ๐ in 41 ๐ฐ CFR Section ๐ผ๐๐ฅ 128-1.5009(f):
The APW Seal โ๐ณ shall ๐ not be used ๐ถ in a manner ๐คฌ indicating FBI ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ approval ๐๐ฏ, authorization, or endorsement โข of any communication ๐ฃ other than the authorized ๐ warning โผ language ๐ช๐ธ. No ๐ซ other text ๐๐คณ๐ฒ or image ๐ธ that appears ๐ on ๐ the same screen ๐บ, page ๐, package ๐ฆ, etc ๐., as the APW Seal โ๐ณ or authorized ๐ warning โผ language โ๐ฃ๐ shall ๐๐ reference ๐, contradict ๐, or be displayed ๐ป in a manner ๐ that appears ๐ to be associated โ
โ with, the APW Seal โ๐ณ or authorized โ
warning โผ language ๐ฃ, except ๐ฎ as authorized โ
in writing โ by the Director โก of the FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ or his ๐ฆ or her ๐ฉ designee and posted ๐ on ๐ the FBIโs official ๐ฝ๐ public ๐โฑ๐ณ Internet ๐๐ป website ๐ฅ๐ฐ (http://www.fbi.gov).
The APW Seal ๐ณ shall ๐ not be used ๐ถ on ๐ any work ๐ผ whose ๐ production ๐๐ค๐, sale ๐ธ, public ๐โฑ๐ณ presentation โ๐, or distribution ๐ by mail โ or in or affecting interstate commerce ๐ซ๐บ would violate ๐ซ the laws ๐คตโ of the United ๐บ๐ธ States ๐ including ๐ต, but ๐ not limited ๐ to, those protecting ๐ intellectual ๐๐ property ๐ก and those prohibiting child ๐ฆ pornography ๐ and obscenity ๐ง๐ฟ๐จ๐ณ๐ณ.
The APW Seal โ๐ณ shall ๐ not be forwarded ๐ค or copied โ except ๐ฎ as necessary ๐ to display ๐บ it on ๐ an eligible ๐บ๐ธ work ๐ข.
The APW Seal โ๐ณ shall ๐ not be used ๐ถ in any manner ๐คฌ:
Indicating that the FBI ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ has approved โ
, authorized ๐, or endorsed any work ๐ข, product ๐ญ, production ๐๐ญ, or private ๐๐ฉ entity ๐ค๐ฝ, including ๐ the work ๐ผ on ๐ which it appears ๐;
Indicating that the FBI ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ has determined ๐ค that a particular ๐ work ๐ข or portion ๐๐ thereof ๐ is entitled ๐ to protection ๐ก of the law โ; or,
Indicating that any item ๐ or communication ๐ฃ๐ต, except ๐ฎ as provided ๐ค๐ญ herein, originated from, on ๐ behalf ๐ฌ of, or in coordination ๐ฆ with the FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐, whether ๐ฉ๐ง for enforcement ๐ฎโโ๏ธ๐ฎโโ๏ธ purposes ๐, education ๐จโ๐โ๐, or otherwise ๐.
Download ๐ฒ the FBIโs Anti-Piracy Warning โผโ Seal ๐ณ
The Anti-Piracy Warning โผ (APW) Seal โ๐ณ has been approved โ by the U.S ๐จ. Attorney ๐ฉ General ๐ as an official ๐ข insignia of the FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ and the U.S ๐บ๐ธ. Department ๐ผ๐๐ฅ of Justice โ. The purpose ๐ of the APW Seal ๐ณ is to help ๐ detect ๐ and deter criminal ๐ซ๐ violations ๐โ๐ซ of U.S ๐จ. intellectual ๐ฉ property ๐ก laws ๐ฎ by educating ๐จ๐๐ค the public ๐๐๐ฆ about ๐ฆ the existence ๐ of these laws ๐ฎ and the authority ๐ฎ of the FBI ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ to enforce ๐ก๐ค them. Any copyright holder ๐ who complies ๐ with the conditions ๐ of 41 ๐ฅ CFR Section ๐ฆ 128-1.5009 can use ๐ป the Seal โ๐ณ.
The APW Seal โ๐ณ can only appear ๐ on ๐ works ๐ผ that meet ๐ฏ all ๐ฏ of the following ๐ฃ:
Are copyright-protected (no ๐ซ registration ๐๐ป๐ of a work ๐ผ is required ๐ to use ๐๐๐ the seal);Are subject ๐ to protection ๐ณ๏ธโ๐๐ก under โฌ U.S ๐จ. Criminal ๐ซ๐ Code ๐ป provisions ๐ฐ; andWould not violate ๐ฟ federal ๐บ๐ธ๐ law ๐ฎ๐๐ if produced ๐ง๐ฌ, sold ๐ธ, publicly ๐โฑ๐ณ presented ๐, or distributed ๐ by mail โ or in affecting interstate commerce ๐ฐ.
Download ๐ฒ FBI ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ Anti-Piracy Warning โผ Seal โ๐ณ by clicking on ๐ the seal ๐ณ below ๐๐ป and then clicking again ๐ฌ to see ๐ the terms ๐ of use ๐ (lawful ๐บ๐ธ๐ฏ use ๐ป requires โ the below ๐ซโฌ
authorized ๐ text ๐ฒโจ to be placed ๐๐ฉ๐ immediately ๐ adjacent to Seal โ๐ณ on ๐ the copyrighted ๐ work ๐ข, see ๐ 41 ๐ฅ CFR Section ๐ผ๐๐ฅ 128-1.5009(e)2).
The unauthorized ๐ค reproduction ๐ฆ๐ฏ or distribution ๐ of a copyrighted ๐ work ๐ผ๐ฉ is illegal ๐๐ฆ. Criminal ๐๐ซ copyright infringement ๐ข, including ๐จ infringement ๐ข without ๐ซ monetary ๐ฐ๐ต gain ๐ชโ, is investigated ๐ by the FBI ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ and is punishable ๐จ by fines ๐๐ and federal ๐บ๐ธ imprisonment.
(Spanish ๐ช๐ธ)
La ๐๐ reproducciรณn o distribuciรณn no ๐
autorizada de ๐
ฐ una ๐ obra protegida por ๐ฆ derechos de ๐ฆ autor es ๐น ilegal ๐ฎ. La ๐ถ infracciรณn criminal ๐ซ๐ de ๐
ฐ los ๐ derechos de ๐ฆ autor, incluyendo la ๐ถ infracciรณn sin ๐ก๐ lucro monetario, es ๐น investigada por ๐ฉ el ๐ FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ y es ๐
ฑ castigable con โญ multas y encarcelamiento federal ๐ฎโโ๏ธ๐๐ฎโโ๏ธ.
Here are two โ๐ฑ alternate ๐๐๐ versions โน of the warning โผ language ๐ฃ, in both English ๐ฌ๐ง and Spanish ๐ช๐ธ:
Warning โผ language ๐ช๐ธ in an abbreviated form ๐
FBI ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ Anti-Piracy Warning โผ: Unauthorized ๐ค copying ๐๐ก is punishable ๐จ under ๐ federal ๐บ๐ธ law.Advertencia Antipirateria del ๐๐ฝ FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐: La ๐ถ copia no ๐ซ autorizada es ๐
ฑ castigable bajo ๐ la ๐๐ ley federal ๐ฎ.
Warning โผ language ๐ช๐ธ specifying current ๐ฐ๐ค penalties ๐ค๐ ๐
FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ Anti-Piracy Warning โผโ : The unauthorized ๐ค reproduction ๐ฆ๐ฏ or distribution ๐ of a copyrighted ๐ work ๐ข is illegal ๐. Criminal ๐ซ๐ copyright infringement ๐ข, including ๐จ infringement ๐บ๐ธ without ๐ซ monetary ๐ค gain ๐ช, is investigated ๐ by the FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ and is punishable ๐จ by up โฌ to five โ years ๐
in federal ๐ฎ prison ๐ and a fine ๐๐ป๐ฏ of $250,000.Advertencia Antipirateria del ๐๐ฝ FBI ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ๐: La ๐ถ reproducciรณn o distribuciรณn no ๐ฃ autorizada de ๐ฆ una ๐ obra protegida por ๐ฉ derechos de ๐ฆ autor es ๐
ฑ ilegal ๐ฎ. La ๐๐ infracciรณn criminal ๐๐ซ de ๐
ฐ los ๐ derechos de ๐ฆ autor, incluyendo la ๐๐ infracciรณn sin ๐ฟ lucro monetario, es ๐น investigada por ๐ el ๐ FBI ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ต๐ปโโ๏ธ y es ๐
ฑ castigable con ๐ pena de ๐ฆ hasta ๐ฆ๐พ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฏ cinco 5๏ธโฃ aรฑos ๐
en ๐ prisiรณn federal ๐ y una ๐ multa de ๐ฆ $250,000.
And below โฌ is the generic ๐ฌ enforcement ๐ warning โผ language ๐ช๐ธ:
The unauthorized ๐ค reproduction ๐ผ๐ฆ or distribution ๐ of a copyrighted ๐ work ๐ข is illegal ๐ฎ๐ผ๐จ๐. Criminal ๐ซ๐ copyright infringement ๐ข is investigated ๐ by federal ๐ฎโโ๏ธ๐๐ฎโโ๏ธ law ๐ฎ๐ enforcement ๐ฎ๐ปโโ๏ธ agencies ๐ต๏ธโโ๏ธ and is punishable ๐จ by up โ to five โ๐ผ years ๐ in prison ๐๐ and a fine ๐ of $250,000.