Chapter 21 - National Archives and Records Administration

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Sec. 2117. Limitation on liability [6]

When letters and other intellectual productions (exclusive of patented material, published works under copyright protection, and unpublished works for which copyright registration has been made) come into the custody or possession of the Archivist, the United States or its agents are not liable for infringement of copyright or analogous rights arising out of use of the materials for display, inspection, research, reproduction, or other purposes.

Appendix VII Endnotes

1 In 1962, section 2318, entitled "Transportation, sale, or receipt of phonograph records bearing forged or counterfeit labels," was added to title 18 of the *United States Code.* Pub. L. No. 87-773, 76 Stat. 775. In 1974, section 2318 was amended to change the penalties. Pub. L. No. 93-573, 88 Stat. 1873. The Copyright Act of 1976 revised section 2318 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Pub. L. No. 94-553, 90 Stat. 2541, 2600. The Piracy and Counterfeiting Amendments Act of 1982 again revised section 2318 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute that included a new title, "Trafficking in counterfeit labels for phonorecords, and copies of motion pictures or other audiovisual works." Pub. L. No. 97-180, 96 Stat. 91. The Crime Control Act of 1990 made a technical amendment to section 2318 to delete the comma after "phonorecords" in the title. Pub. L. No. 101-647, 104 Stat. 4789, 4928. In 1994, section 2318(c)(1) was amended by inserting "section 46501 of title 49" in lieu of "section 101 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958. Pub. L. No. 103-272, 108 Stat. 745, 1374. The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 amended section 2318(a) by inserting "under this title" in lieu of "not more than $250,000." Pub. L. No. 103-322, 108 Stat. 1796, 2148. (As provided in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3571, the maximum fine for an individual is $250,000, and the maximum fine for an organization is $500,000.)

The Anticounterfeiting Consumer Protection Act of 1996 amended section 2318 by changing the title, by amending subsection (a) to insert "a computer program or documentation" through to "knowingly traffics in counterfeit documentation or packaging for a computer program" in lieu of "a motion picture or other audiovisual work" and by amending subsection (b)(3) to insert "computer program" after "motion picture." Pub. L. No. 104-153, 110 Stat. 1386. The Act also amended section 2318(c) by inserting "a copy of a copyrighted computer program or copyrighted documentation or packaging for a computer program" into paragraph (3) and by adding paragraph (4). *Id.* at 1387.

2 The Piracy and Counterfeiting Amendments Act of 1982 added section 2319 to title 18 of the *United States Code.* Pub. L. No. 97-180, 96 Stat. 91, 92. In 1992, section 2319 was amended by substituting a new subsection (b), by deleting "sound recording," "motion picture" and "audiovisual work" from subsection (c)(1) and by substituting "120" for "118" in subsection (c)(2). Pub. L. No. 102-561, 106 Stat. 4233. In 1997, a technical amendment corrected the spelling of "last" in subsection (b)(1) to "least." Pub. L. No. 105-80, 111 Stat. 1529, 1536.

In 1997, the No Electronic Theft Act amended section 2319 of title 18 as follows: 1) in subsection (a) by inserting "and (c)" after "subsection (b),"; 2) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting "section 506(a)(1) of title 17" in lieu of "subsection (a) of this section,"; 3) in subsection (b)(1) by inserting "including by electronic means" and by inserting "which have a total retail value" in lieu of "with a retail value," 4) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e); and 5) by adding new subsections (c) and (d). Pub. L. No. 105-147, 111 Stat. 2678. The Act also directed the United States Sentencing Commission to "ensure that the applicable guideline range for a defendant convicted of a crime against intellectual property . . . is sufficiently stringent to deter such a crime" and to "ensure that the guidelines provide for consideration of the retail value and quantity of the items with respect to which the crime against intellectual property was committed."* Id.* See also endnote 5, chapter 5, *supra.*

3 In 1994, the Uruguay Round Agreements Act added section 2319A to title 18 of the *United States Code.* Pub. L. No. 103-465, 108 Stat. 4809, 4974. In 1997, the No Electronic Theft Act amended section 2319A by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (e) and (f), respectively, and by adding subsection (d). Pub. L. No. 105-147, 111 Stat. 2678. See also endnote 2, *supra*, regarding the United States Sentencing Commission.

4 In 1948, section 1338, entitled "Patents, copyrights, trade-marks, and unfair competition," was added to title 28 of the *United States Code.* Pub. L. No. 773, 62 Stat. 869, 931. In 1970, the title of section 1338 and the text of subsection (b) were amended to insert "plant variety protection" after "patent." Pub. L. No. 91-577, 84 Stat. 1542, 1559. In 1988, the Judicial Improvements and Access to Justice Act amended section 1338 by adding "mask works" to the title and by adding subsection (c). Pub. L. No. 100-702, 102 Stat. 4642, 4671.

5 In 1960, section 1498 of the *United States Code* was amended to add subsections (b) and (c). Pub. L. No. 86-726, 74 Stat. 855. The Copyright Act of 1976 amended section 1498(b) to insert "section 504(c) of title 17" in lieu of "section 101(b) of title 17." Pub. L. No. 94-553, 90 Stat. 2541, 2599. The Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1982 amended section 1498(a) to insert "United States Claims Court" in lieu of "Court of Claims" and, in subsections (b) and (d), to insert "Claims Court" in lieu of "Court of Claims," wherever it appeared. Pub. L. No. 97-164, 96 Stat. 25, 40. In 1988, the Judicial Improvements and Access to Justice Act amended section 1498 by adding subsection (e). Pub. L. No. 100-702, 102 Stat. 4642, 4671. The Federal Courts Administration Act of 1992 amended section 1498 by inserting "United States Court of Federal Claims" in lieu of "United States Claims Court," wherever it appeared, and by inserting "Court of Federal Claims" in lieu of "Claims Court," wherever it appeared. Pub. L. No. 102-572, 106 Stat. 4506, 4516. In 1997, the No Electronic Theft (NET) Act amended section 1498(b) to insert "action which may be brought for such infringement shall be an action by the copyright owner" in lieu of "remedy of the owner of such copyright shall be by action." Pub. L. No. 105-147, 111 Stat. 2678, 2680.

6 In 1968, section 2113, entitled "Limitation on liability," was added to title 44 of the *United States Code.* Pub. L. No. 90-620, 82 Stat. 1238, 1291. The Copyright Act of 1976 amended section 2113 in its entirety. Pub. L. No. 94-553, 90 Stat. 2541, 2599. The National Archives and Records Administration Act of 1984 amended section 2113 by redesignating it as section 2117 and by inserting "Archivist" in lieu of "Administrator of General Services." Pub. L. No. 98-497, 98 Stat. 2280 and 2286.

09-Aug-2001