§1703 Seal of the National Recording Registry

Summary

The Librarian of Congress must make a special seal that shows a sound recording is included in the National Recording Registry and that the copy is the Registry version. The Librarian must write rules for who can use the seal. The seal can only go on copies of the Registry version, and people must get Librarian approval before they put it on a recording. For copyrighted works that were widely distributed, broadcast, or published, only the copyright owner or someone they authorize may place or allow the seal on copies kept in the Library’s Registry collection. Those who are allowed to use the seal may add a short statement saying the recording was chosen by the Librarian, with advice from the National Recording Preservation Board, for its cultural, historical, or artistic importance. Use of the seal starts on the date the Librarian publishes the recording’s name in the Federal Register. It is illegal to knowingly show or distribute a recording bearing the seal if the recording is not in the Registry or if the Librarian has not approved the seal for that copy. Courts can stop violations. Usually the court will only order the seal removed, but for a willful pattern of violations it can impose a civil fine up to $10,000 and other injunctive relief. These remedies are the only ones allowed under this law for seal misuse.