§1703 Seal of the National Recording Registry

Summary

The Librarian of Congress must create a special seal to show a sound recording is in the National Recording Registry and that a particular copy is the Registry version. The Librarian must write rules for who may use the seal. The seal may only be put on copies of the Registry version. People must get approval from the Librarian before using it. For copyrighted works that were widely distributed, broadcast, or published, only the copyright owner or a licensed agent may place or allow the seal on a copy kept in the Library of Congress collection. Anyone allowed to use the seal may also include a short statement saying the recording was chosen for the Registry by the Librarian of Congress with the National Recording Preservation Board because of its cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance. Use of the seal starts when the Librarian publishes the recording’s name in the Federal Register. No one may knowingly show or distribute a recording that bears the seal if the recording is not in the Registry or if the Librarian has not approved that seal use. No one may use the seal to promote a version that is not the Registry version. U.S. district courts can stop these violations. The usual remedy is removal of the seal. For a repeated, willful pattern of violations, a court may impose a civil fine up to $10,000 and order other remedies. These are the only legal remedies under this chapter or other federal or state law for misuse of the seal.