17 USC § 1204 - Criminal offenses and penalties

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t17/s1204"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "17 USC § 1204 - Criminal offenses and penalties"
title_number: 17
title_name: "COPYRIGHTS"
section_number: "1204"
section_name: "Criminal offenses and penalties"
chapter_number: 12
chapter_name: "COPYRIGHT PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
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.)"
---


# § 1204. Criminal offenses and penalties

**(a)** **In General.—** Any person who violates section 1201 or 1202 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) shall not apply to a nonprofit library, archives, educational institution, or public broadcasting entity (as defined under section 118(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.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2010—Subsec. (b).  substituted “118(f)” for “118(g)”.

1999—Subsec. (b).  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.”