The
official Anti-Piracy Warning (APW) Seal, seen above, has been approved by the U.S.
Attorney General as an official insignia of the FBI and the U.S. Department of
Justice.
Previously,
use of the Anti-Piracy Warning Seal previously was limited to entertainment and
software industry associations that had entered into written agreements with
the FBI. It became an ubiquitous symbol at the beginning of movies on VHS and DVD's.
However,
as of this Monday, any copyright holder from any sector, regardless of membership in
a formal association, can obtain the
seal by checking off a box to confirm consent with a list of
prohibitions and conditions. The terms of use cite, among other things, that
holders cannot animate or alter the emblem, or use it on child pornography.
The seal
is part of a public awareness campaign to remind consumers they are subject to
fines or jail time for intellectual property infringement. Copyrighted works
include films, audio recordings, electronic media, software, books and
photographs.
The
symbol does not provide greater legal protections for owners or signal
additional penalties for violators.
Rather, the official insignia “simply serves as a widely recognizable reminder of the FBI’s
authority and mission with respect to the protection of intellectual property
rights,” bureau officials said in a statement.
Lawful
use requires the below authorized text to be placed immediately adjacent
to Seal on the copyrighted work:
The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by fines and federal imprisonment.
