---
kind: "section"
citation: "2 U.S.C. § 1703"
title: "2"
title_heading: "The Congress"
number: "1703"
heading: "Seal of the National Recording Registry"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/2/1703"
units:
  - "Chapter 27 — Sound Recording Preservation by the Library of Congress"
  - "Subchapter I — National Recording Registry"
---

# §1703. Seal of the National Recording Registry

- (a) **In general—** The [Librarian](/usc/2/1741.md?p=1) shall provide a seal to indicate that a [sound recording](/usc/2/1741.md?p=3) has been included in the National Recording Registry and is the [Registry version](/usc/2/1741.md?p=5) of that recording.
- (b) **Use of seal—** The [Librarian](/usc/2/1741.md?p=1) shall establish guidelines for approval of the use of the seal provided under [subsection (a)](#a), and shall include in the guidelines the following:
  - (1) The seal may only be used on recording copies of the [Registry version](/usc/2/1741.md?p=5) of a [sound recording](/usc/2/1741.md?p=3).
  - (2) The seal may be used only after the [Librarian](/usc/2/1741.md?p=1) has given approval to those persons seeking to apply the seal in accordance with the guidelines.
  - (3) In the case of copyrighted mass distributed, broadcast, or published works, only the copyright legal owner or an authorized licensee of that copyright owner may place or authorize the placement of the seal on any recording copy of the [Registry version](/usc/2/1741.md?p=5) of any [sound recording](/usc/2/1741.md?p=3) that is maintained in the National Recording Registry Collection in the Library of Congress.
  - (4) Anyone authorized to place the seal on any recording copy of any [Registry version](/usc/2/1741.md?p=5) of a [sound recording](/usc/2/1741.md?p=3) may accompany such seal with the following language: “This [sound recording](/usc/2/1741.md?p=3) is selected for inclusion in the National Recording Registry by the [Librarian](/usc/2/1741.md?p=1) of Congress in consultation with the National Recording Preservation [Board](/usc/2/1741.md?p=2) of the Library of Congress because of its cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance.”.
- (c) **Effective date of the seal—** The use of the seal provided under [subsection (a)](#a) with respect to a [sound recording](/usc/2/1741.md?p=3) shall be effective beginning on the date the [Librarian](/usc/2/1741.md?p=1) publishes in the Federal Register (in accordance with [section 1702(b) of this title](/usc/2/1702.md?p=b)) the name of the recording, as selected for inclusion in the National Recording Registry.
- (d) **Prohibited uses of the seal—**
  - (1) **Prohibition on distribution and exhibition—** No person may knowingly distribute or exhibit to the public a version of a [sound recording](/usc/2/1741.md?p=3) or any copy of a [sound recording](/usc/2/1741.md?p=3) which bears the seal described in [subsection (a)](#a) if such recording—
    - (A) is not included in the National Recording Registry; or
    - (B) is included in the National Recording Registry but has not been approved for use of the seal by the [Librarian](/usc/2/1741.md?p=1) pursuant to the guidelines established under [subsection (b)](#b).
  - (2) **Prohibition on promotion—** No person may knowingly use the seal described in [subsection (a)](#a) to promote any version of a [sound recording](/usc/2/1741.md?p=3) or recording copy other than a [Registry version](/usc/2/1741.md?p=5).
- (e) **Remedies for violations—**
  - (1) **Jurisdiction—** The several district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction, for cause shown, to prevent and restrain violations of [subsection (d)](#d).
  - (2) **Relief—**
    - (A) **Removal of seal—** Except as provided in [subparagraph (B)](#e-2-B), relief for violation of [subsection (d)](#d) shall be limited to the removal of the seal from the [sound recording](/usc/2/1741.md?p=3) involved in the violation.
    - (B) **Fine and injunctive relief—** In the case of a pattern or practice of the willful violation of [subsection (d)](#d), the court may order a civil fine of not more than $10,000 and appropriate injunctive relief.
  - (3) **Limitation of remedies—** The remedies provided in this subsection shall be the exclusive remedies under this chapter, or any other Federal or [State](/usc/2/4556.md?p=1) law, regarding the use of the seal described in [subsection (a)](#a).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–474, title I, § 103, Nov. 9, 2000, 114 Stat. 2086.)