That famous FBI stamp with warnings about piracy will be going on software, music, video game, and DVD packages within a short time, the FBI announced at a February 19 press conference in Los Angeles.
The Recording Industry Association of America wasted no time applauding the move. "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," RIAA antipiracy vice president Brad Buckles told Wired. "These are serious crimes with serious consequences - including federal prosecution - if the wrong choices are made about copying or uploading music without permission."
The Electronic Frontier Foundation was just as quick to dismiss the move. "Once again the recording industry is putting its effort into scare tactics rather than market solutions," EFF attorney Jason Schulz told the magazine. "The last thing music fans want is another stern warning from the recording industry."
The FBI said individual companies will choose where or even whether to place the seal on their products. The seal could even be printed on a compact disc or its packaging, or pop up on screens when customers download and purchase digital music files, the bureau added.
Buckles told reporters it had not yet been decided when the seal would begin to turn up on copyrighted materials, but companies are looking to bring it about as quick as they can, according to Wired.
