---
kind: "section"
citation: "17 U.S.C. § 1204"
title: "17"
title_heading: "Copyrights"
number: "1204"
heading: "Criminal offenses and penalties"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/17/1204"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — Copyright Protection and Management Systems"
---

# §1204. Criminal offenses and penalties

- (a) **In General.—** Any person who violates section [1201](/usc/17/1201.md) or [1202](/usc/17/1202.md) willfully and for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain—
  - (1) shall be fined not more than $500,000 or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, for the first offense; and
  - (2) shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both, for any subsequent offense.
- (b) **Limitation for Nonprofit Library, Archives, Educational Institution, or Public Broadcasting Entity.—** [Subsection (a)](#a) shall not apply to a nonprofit library, archives, educational institution, or public broadcasting entity (as defined under [section 118(f)](/usc/17/118.md?p=f)).
- (c) **Statute of Limitations.—** No criminal proceeding shall be brought under this section unless such proceeding is commenced within 5 years after the cause of action arose.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 105–304, title I, § 103(a), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2876; amended Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title V, § 5004(b)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–593; Pub. L. 111–295, § 6(f)(3), Dec. 9, 2010, 124 Stat. 3181.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2010—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–295 substituted “118(f)” for “118(g)”.

1999—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–113 amended heading and text of subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Subsection (a) shall not apply to a nonprofit library, archives, or educational institution.”