RIAA's New Seal of Disapproval 

Music, software, video-game and DVD packages shortly will carry the famous FBI stamp and warnings about piracy, in a move to hammer home the message that stealing copyright materials is a serious crime, industry officials said Thursday.

The new antipiracy seal, which was announced at a press conference at the FBI's Los Angeles office, will look much like the warnings already seen at the beginning of movies on DVDs or video tapes. Individual companies will decide where to place the seal and if they want to use it at all. The seal might be printed on a CD itself, on the packaging, or might pop up on screens when a customer downloads and purchases a digital music file.

Story Tools

Story Images

Click thumbnails for full-size image:

See also

• New Flurry of RIAA Lawsuits
• Court to Hear Landmark P2P Case
• RIAA Strikes Again at Traders
• Battle Not Over for File Sharers
• 'Tis the Season for RIAA Lawsuits
• DAT's Entertainment, So Enjoy

Today's Top 5 Stories

• Electronic Snoops Tackle Copiers
• Free E-Mail With a Steep Price?
• Lawn Mowing for Lazybones
• Bioethics Panel Nudges Lawmakers
• Lots of Money Hooked on Brackets
• Wired News RSS Feeds

Breaking News

• Bush Vows No Retreat in Iraq After Falluja Deaths
• March Job Growth Pace Fastest in 4 Years
• Spain Deploys Army After Bomb Found on Rail Link
• Judge Declares Mistrial in Tyco Case
• US to Fingerprint British Visitors, Other Allies
• More Breaking News
• Wire Service Photo Gallery

Tech Jobs Partner

never settle.

"It is our hope that when consumers see the new FBI warning on the music they purchase, both physically and online, they will take the time to learn the dos and don'ts of copying and uploading to the Internet," said Brad Buckles, vice president of antipiracy at the Recording Industry Association of America. "These are serious crimes with serious consequences -- including federal prosecution -- if the wrong choices are made about copying or uploading music without permission."

He said copyright infringement is not a victimless crime and hurts artists, songwriters and music store clerks, among others. He said he didn't know when the seal would start appearing on copyright materials, but that companies are working to make it happen as soon as possible.

Jana Monroe, assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division, said theft of intellectual property has "grown substantially and has had a detrimental impact on the U.S. economy."

The four industries -- music, movies, software and video games -- suffer $23 billion losses each year because of piracy, she said.

Critics of the RIAA's antipiracy crusade weren't surprised and said it was a waste of time and money.

"Once again the recording industry is putting its effort into scare tactics rather than market solutions," said Jason Schultz, an attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "The last thing music fans want is another stern warning from the recording industry."

On Tuesday, the music trade group announced it had filed another round of copyright-infringement lawsuits against 531 individuals, bringing the total number of people sued to nearly 1,500 since September.

On Wednesday, the RIAA announced it sent legal notices to 29 businesses around the country it believes are selling illegal copies of CDs and music DVDs. The letters offer the retailers a chance to settle with the music industry or face legal action.

"American consumers would be much more responsive to a positive message that offered them a reasonable solution to the file-sharing wars," Schultz said.

Have a comment on this article? Send it

More stories written by Katie Dean