Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 396 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 245, 35 Stat. 1138; June 5, 1920, ch. 268, 41 Stat. 1060). Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in
section 2 of this title. Words “in interstate or foreign commerce” were substituted for ten lines of text without loss of meaning. (See definitive
section 10 of this title.) (See reviser’s note under
section 1461 of this title.) Minor changes in phraseology were made.
section 230(e)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934, referred to in text, was redesignated
section 230(f)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934 by Pub. L. 105–277, div. C, title XIV, § 1404(a)(2), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–739, and is classified to
section 230(f)(2) of Title 47, Telecommunications.
1996—Pub. L. 104–104, § 507(a)(1), inserted “or interactive computer service (as defined in
section 230(e)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934)” after “carrier” in first par. Pub. L. 104–104, § 507(a)(2), in second par., inserted “or receives,” after “takes”, “or interactive computer service (as defined in
section 230(e)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934)” after “common carrier”, and “or importation” after “carriage”. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322, in last par., substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000” after “Shall be” and for “fined not more than $10,000” after “and shall be”. 1971—Pub. L. 91–662 struck out “preventing conception, or” before “producing abortion”. 1958—Pub. L. 85–796 substituted “uses” for “deposits with” in opening par., “carriage of which” for “depositing of which for carriage” in penultimate par., and inserted penalty provisions for subsequent offenses in last par. 1950—Act May 27, 1950, brought within scope of section the importation or transportation of any obscene, lewd, lascivious, or filthy phonograph recording, electrical transcription, or other article or think capable of producing sound.
of 1971 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91–662 effective Jan. 9, 1971, see
section 7 of Pub. L. 91–662, set out as a note under
section 552 of this title.
of 1996 Amendment Pub. L. 104–104, title V, § 507(c), Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 137, provided that: “The
made by this section [amending this section and
section 1465 of this title] are clarifying and shall not be interpreted to limit or repeal any prohibition contained in
section 1462 and
1465 of title 18, United States Code, before such amendment, under the rule established in United States v. Alpers, 338 U.S. 680 (1950).”