18 U.S.C 2257, 2257a
18 U.S.C 2257, 2257a
18 U.S.C 2257, 2257a
(a) Terms used in this part shall have the meanings set forth in 18 U.S.C. 2257,
and as provided in this section. The terms used and defined in these regulations
are intended to provide common-language guidance and usage and are not
meant to exclude technologies or uses of these terms as otherwise employed in
practice or defined in other regulations or federal statutes ( i.e. , 47 U.S.C. 230,
231).
(b) Picture identification card means a document issued by the United States, a
State government, or a political subdivision thereof, or a United States territory,
that bears the photograph, the name of the individual identified, and the date of
birth of that individual, and provides specific information sufficient for the issuing
authority to confirm its validity, such as a passport, Permanent Resident Card
(commonly known as a “Green Card”), or employment authorization document
issued by the United States, a driver's license or other form of identification
issued by a State or the District of Columbia; or a foreign government-issued
equivalent of any of the documents listed above when the person who is the
subject of the picture identification card is a non-U.S. citizen located outside the
United States at the time of original production and the producer maintaining the
required records, whether a U.S. citizen or non-U.S. citizen, is located outside
the United States on the original production date. The picture identification card
must be valid as of the original production date.
(c) Producer means any person, including any individual, corporation, or other
organization, who is a primary producer or a secondary producer.
(1) Primary producer is any person who actually films, videotapes, photographs,
or creates a digitally- or computer-manipulated image, a digital image, or a
picture of, or who digitizes an image of, a visual depiction of an actual human
being engaged in actual or simulated sexually explicit conduct. When a
corporation or other organization is the primary producer of any particular image
or picture, then no individual employee or agent of that corporation or other
organization will be considered to be a primary producer of that image or picture.
(3) The same person may be both a primary and a secondary producer.
(4) Producer does not include persons whose activities relating to the visual
depiction of actual or simulated sexually explicit conduct are limited to the
following:
(ii) Distribution;
(iii) Any activity, other than those activities identified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2)
of this section, that does not involve the hiring, contracting for, managing, or
otherwise arranging for the participation of the depicted performers;
(v) The transmission, storage, retrieval, hosting, formatting, or translation (or any
combination thereof) of a communication, without selection or alteration of the
content of the communication, except that deletion of a particular communication
or material made by another person in a manner consistent with section 230(c) of
the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230(c)) shall not constitute such
selection or alteration of the content of the communication; or
(vi) Unless the activity or activities are described in section 2257(h)(2)(A), the
dissemination of a depiction without having created it or altered its content.
(g) Computer site or service means a computer server-based file repository or file
distribution service that is accessible over the Internet, World Wide Web, Usenet,
or any other interactive computer service (as defined in 47 U.S.C. 230(f)(2)).
Computer site or service includes without limitation, sites or services using
hypertext markup language, hypertext transfer protocol, file transfer protocol,
electronic mail transmission protocols, similar data transmission protocols, or any
successor protocols, including but not limited to computer sites or services on the
World Wide Web.
(i) Electronic communications service has the meaning set forth in 18 U.S.C.
2510(15).
(j) Remote computing service has the meaning set forth in 18 U.S.C. 2711(2).
(l) Interactive computer service has the meaning set forth in 47 U.S.C. 230(f)(2).
(m) Date of original production or original production date means the date the
primary producer actually filmed, videotaped, or photographed, or created a
digitally- or computer-manipulated image or picture of, the visual depiction of an
actual human being engaged in actual or simulated sexually explicit conduct. For
productions that occur over more than one date, it means the single date that
was the first of those dates. For a performer who was not 18 as of this date, the
date of original production is the date that such a performer was first actually
filmed, videotaped, photographed, or otherwise depicted. With respect to matter
that is a secondarily produced compilation of individual, primarily produced
depictions, the date of original production of the matter is the earliest date after
July 3, 1995, on which any individual depiction in that compilation was produced.
For a performer in one of the individual depictions contained in that compilation
who was not 18 as of this date, the date of original production is the date that the
performer was first actually filmed, videotaped, photographed, or otherwise
depicted for the individual depiction at issue.
(n) Sexually explicit conduct has the meaning set forth in 18 U.S.C. 2256(2)(A).
(p) Regularly and in the normal course of business collects and maintains means
any business practice(s) that ensure that the producer confirms the identity and
age of all employees who perform in visual depictions.
(r) All performers, including minor performers means all performers who appear
in any visual depiction, no matter for how short a period of time.
(s) Employed by means, in reference to a performer, one who receives pay for
performing in a visual depiction or is otherwise in an employer-employee
relationship with the producer of the visual depiction as evidenced by oral or
written agreements.
(a) Any producer of any book, magazine, periodical, film, videotape, digitally- or
computer-manipulated image, digital image, picture, or other matter that is
produced in whole or in part with materials that have been mailed or shipped in
interstate or foreign commerce, or is shipped, transported, or intended for
shipment or transportation in interstate or foreign commerce, and that contains
one or more visual depictions of an actual human being engaged in actual
sexually explicit conduct (except lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic
area of any person) made after July 3, 1995, or one or more visual depictions of
an actual human being engaged in simulated sexually explicit conduct or in
actual sexually explicit conduct limited to lascivious exhibition of the genitals or
pubic area of any person made after March 18, 2009, shall, for each performer
portrayed in such visual depiction, create and maintain records containing the
following:
(1) The legal name and date of birth of each performer, obtained by the
producer's examination of a picture identification card prior to production of the
depiction. For any performer portrayed in a depiction of an actual human being
engaged in actual sexually explicit conduct (except lascivious exhibition of the
genitals or pubic area of any person) made after July 3, 1995, or of an actual
human being engaged in simulated sexually explicit conduct or in actual sexually
explicit conduct limited to lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of any
person made after March 18, 2009, the records shall also include a legible hard
copy or legible digitally scanned or other electronic copy of a hard copy of the
identification document examined and, if that document does not contain a recent
and recognizable picture of the performer, a legible hard copy of a picture
identification card. For any performer portrayed in a depiction of an actual human
being engaged in actual sexually explicit conduct (except lascivious exhibition of
the genitals or pubic area of any person) made after June 23, 2005, or of an
actual human being engaged in simulated sexually explicit conduct or in actual
sexually explicit conduct limited to lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic
area of any person made after March 18, 2009, the records shall include a copy
of the depiction, and, where the depiction is published on an Internet computer
site or service, a copy of any URL associated with the depiction. If no URL is
associated with the depiction, the records shall include another uniquely
identifying reference associated with the location of the depiction on the Internet.
For any performer in a depiction performed live on the Internet, the records shall
include a copy of the depiction with running-time sufficient to identify the
performer in the depiction and to associate the performer with the records
needed to confirm his or her age.
(2) Any name, other than the performer's legal name, ever used by the
performer, including the performer's maiden name, alias, nickname, stage name,
or professional name. For any performer portrayed in a visual depiction of an
actual human being engaged in actual sexually explicit conduct (except
lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of any person) made after July
3, 1995, or of an actual human being engaged in simulated sexually explicit
conduct or in actual sexually explicit conduct limited to lascivious exhibition of the
genitals or pubic area of any person made after March 18, 2009, such names
shall be indexed by the title or identifying number of the book, magazine, film,
videotape, digitally- or computer-manipulated image, digital image, picture, URL,
or other matter. Producers may rely in good faith on representations by
performers regarding accuracy of the names, other than legal names, used by
performers.
(3) Records required to be created and maintained under this part shall be
organized alphabetically, or numerically where appropriate, by the legal name of
the performer (by last or family name, then first or given name), and shall be
indexed or cross-referenced to each alias or other name used and to each title or
identifying number of the book, magazine, film, videotape, digitally- or computer-
manipulated image, digital image, picture, URL, or other matter.
(4) The primary producer shall create a record of the date of original production
of the depiction.
(d) For any record of a performer in a visual depiction of actual sexually explicit
conduct (except lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of any person)
created or amended after June 23, 2005, or of a performer in a visual depiction of
simulated sexually explicit conduct or actual sexually explicit conduct limited to
lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of any person made after March
18, 2009, all such records shall be organized alphabetically, or numerically where
appropriate, by the legal name of the performer (by last or family name, then first
or given name), and shall be indexed or cross-referenced to each alias or other
name used and to each title or identifying number of the book, magazine, film,
videotape, digitally- or computer-manipulated image, digital image, or picture, or
other matter (including but not limited to an Internet computer site or service). If
the producer subsequently produces an additional book, magazine, film,
videotape, digitally- or computer-manipulated image, digital image, or picture, or
other matter (including but not limited to an Internet computer site or service) that
contains one or more visual depictions of an actual human being engaged in
actual or simulated sexually explicit conduct made by a performer for whom he
maintains records as required by this part, the producer shall add the additional
title or identifying number and the names of the performer to the existing records,
and such records shall thereafter be maintained in accordance with this
paragraph.
(e) Records required to be maintained under this part shall be segregated from
all other records, shall not contain any other records, and shall not be contained
within any other records.
(f) Records required to be maintained under this part may be kept either in hard
copy or in digital form, provided that they include scanned copies of forms of
identification and that there is a custodian of the records who can authenticate
each digital record.
Any producer required by this part to maintain records shall make such records
available at the producer's place of business or at the place of business of a non-
employee custodian of records. Each record shall be maintained for seven years
from the date of creation or last amendment or addition. If the producer ceases to
carry on the business, the records shall be maintained for five years thereafter. If
the producer produces the book, magazine, periodical, film, videotape, digitally-
or computer-manipulated image, digital image, or picture, or other matter
(including but not limited to Internet computer site or services) as part of his
control of or through his employment with an organization, records shall be made
available at the organization's place of business or at the place of business of a
non-employee custodian of records. If the organization is dissolved, the person
who was responsible for maintaining the records, as described in §75.6(b), shall
continue to maintain the records for a period of five years after dissolution.
(b) Advance notice of inspections. Advance notice of record inspections shall not
be given.
(c) Conduct of inspections. (1) Inspections shall take place during normal
business hours and at such places as specified in §75.4. For the purpose of this
part, “normal business hours” are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., local time, Monday
through Friday, or, for inspections to be held at the place of business of a
producer, any other time during which the producer is actually conducting
business relating to producing a depiction of actual sexually explicit conduct. To
the extent that the producer does not maintain at least 20 normal business hours
per week, the producer must provide notice to the inspecting agency of the hours
during which records will be available for inspection, which in no case may be
less than 20 hours per week.
(2) Upon commencing an inspection, the investigator shall:
(i) Present his or her credentials to the owner, operator, or agent in charge of the
establishment;
(ii) Explain the nature and purpose of the inspection, including the limited nature
of the records inspection, and the records required to be kept by the Act and this
part; and
(iii) Indicate the scope of the specific inspection and the records that he or she
wishes to inspect.
(4) At the conclusion of an inspection, the investigator may informally advise the
producer or his non-employee custodian of records of any apparent violations
disclosed by the inspection. The producer or non-employee custodian or records
may bring to the attention of the investigator any pertinent information regarding
the records inspected or any other relevant matter.
(d) Frequency of inspections. Records may be inspected once during any four-
month period, unless there is a reasonable suspicion to believe that a violation of
this part has occurred, in which case an additional inspection or inspections may
be conducted before the four-month period has expired.
(f) Other law enforcement authority. These regulations do not restrict the
otherwise lawful investigative prerogatives of an investigator while conducting an
inspection.
(g) Seizure of evidence. Notwithstanding any provision of this part or any other
regulation, a law enforcement officer may seize any evidence of the commission
of any felony while conducting an inspection.
(a) Any producer of any book, magazine, periodical, film, videotape, digitally- or
computer-manipulated image, digital image, or picture, or other matter (including
but not limited to an Internet computer site or service) that contains one or more
visual depictions of an actual human being engaged in actual sexually explicit
conduct made after July 3, 1995, and produced, manufactured, published,
duplicated, reproduced, or reissued after July 3, 1995, or of a performer in a
visual depiction of simulated sexually explicit conduct or actual sexually explicit
conduct limited to lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of any person
made after March 18, 2009, shall cause to be affixed to every copy of the matter
a statement describing the location of the records required by this part. A
producer may cause such statement to be affixed, for example, by instructing the
manufacturer of the book, magazine, periodical, film, videotape, digitally- or
computer-manipulated image, digital image, picture, or other matter to affix the
statement. In this paragraph, the term “copy” includes every page of a Web site
on which a visual depiction of an actual human being engaged in actual or
simulated sexually explicit conduct appears.
(1) The title of the book, magazine, periodical, film, or videotape, digitally- or
computer-manipulated image, digital image, picture, or other matter (unless the
title is prominently set out elsewhere in the book, magazine, periodical, film, or
videotape, digitally- or computer-manipulated image, digital image, picture, or
other matter) or, if there is no title, an identifying number or similar identifier that
differentiates this matter from other matters which the producer has produced;
(2) [Reserved]
(3) A street address at which the records required by this part may be made
available. A post office box address does not satisfy this requirement.
(c) If the producer is an organization, the statement shall also contain the title
and business address of the person who is responsible for maintaining the
records required by this part.
(d) The information contained in the statement must be accurate as of the date
on which the book, magazine, periodical, film, videotape, digitally or computer-
manipulated image, digital image, picture, or other matter is produced or
reproduced.
(e) For the purposes of this section, the required statement shall be displayed in
typeface that is no less than 12-point type or no smaller than the second-largest
typeface on the material and in a color that clearly contrasts with the background
color of the material. For any electronic or other display of the notice that is
limited in time, the notice must be displayed for a sufficient duration and of a
sufficient size to be capable of being read by the average viewer.
(a) Any producer of any book, magazine, periodical, film, videotape, digitally- or
computer-manipulated image, digital image, picture, or other matter may cause
to be affixed to every copy of the matter a statement attesting that the matter is
not covered by the record-keeping requirements of 18 U.S.C. 2257(a)–(c) or 18
U.S.C. 2257A(a)–(c), as applicable, and of this part if:
(1) The matter contains visual depictions of actual sexually explicit conduct made
only before July 3, 1995, or was last produced, manufactured, published,
duplicated, reproduced, or reissued before July 3, 1995. Where the matter
consists of a compilation of separate primarily produced depictions, the entirety
of the conduct depicted was produced prior to July 3, 1995, regardless of the
date of secondary production;
(2) The matter contains only visual depictions of simulated sexually explicit
conduct or of actual sexually explicit conduct limited to lascivious exhibition of the
genitals or pubic area of any person, made before March 18, 2009;
(3) The matter contains only some combination of the visual depictions described
in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section.
(b) If the primary producer and the secondary producer are different entities, the
primary producer may certify to the secondary producer that the visual depictions
in the matter satisfy the standards under paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this
section. The secondary producer may then cause to be affixed to every copy of
the matter a statement attesting that the matter is not covered by the record-
keeping requirements of 18 U.S.C. 2257(a)–(c) or 18 U.S.C. 2257A(a)–(c), as
applicable, and of this part.
(a) All books, magazines, and periodicals shall contain the statement required in
§75.6 or suggested in §75.7 either on the first page that appears after the front
cover or on the page on which copyright information appears.
(b) In any film or videotape which contains end credits for the production,
direction, distribution, or other activity in connection with the film or videotape, the
statement referred to in §75.6 or §75.7 shall be presented at the end of the end
titles or final credits and shall be displayed for a sufficient duration to be capable
of being read by the average viewer.
(c) Any other film or videotape shall contain the required statement within one
minute from the start of the film or videotape, and before the opening scene, and
shall display the statement for a sufficient duration to be read by the average
viewer.
(e) For purpose of this section, a digital video disc (DVD) containing multiple
depictions is a single matter for which the statement may be located in a single
place covering all depictions on the DVD.
(f) For all other categories not otherwise mentioned in this section, the statement
is to be prominently displayed consistent with the manner of display required for
the aforementioned categories.
(a) In general. The provisions of §§75.2 through 75.8 shall not apply to a visual
depiction of actual sexually explicit conduct constituting lascivious exhibition of
the genitals or pubic area of a person or to a visual depiction of simulated
sexually explicit conduct if all of the following requirements are met:
(3) Either—
(4) The producer of the visual depiction certifies to the Attorney General that he
regularly and in the normal course of business collects and maintains individually
identifiable information regarding all performers, including minor performers,
employed by that person, pursuant to Federal and State tax, labor, and other
laws, labor agreements, or otherwise pursuant to industry standards, where such
information includes the name, address, and date of birth of the performer. (A
producer of materials depicting sexually explicit conduct not covered by the
certification regime is not disqualified from using the certification regime for
materials covered by the certification regime.)
(b) Form of certification. The certification shall take the form of a letter addressed
to the Attorney General signed either by the chief executive officer or another
executive officer of the entity making the certification, or in the event the entity
does not have a chief executive officer or other executive officer, the senior
manager responsible for overseeing the entity's activities.
(1) A statement setting out the basis under 18 U.S.C. 2257A and this part under
which the certifying entity and any sub-entities, if applicable, are permitted to
avail themselves of this exemption, and basic evidence justifying that basis.
(2) The following statement: “I hereby certify that [name of entity] [and all sub-
entities listed in this letter] regularly and in the normal course of business collect
and maintain individually identifiable information regarding all performers
employed by [name of entity]”; and
(3) If applicable because the visual depictions at issue were produced outside the
United States, the statement that: “I hereby certify that the foreign producers of
the visual depictions produced by [name of entity] either collect and maintain the
records required by sections 2257 and 2257A of title 18 of the U.S. Code, or
have certified to the Attorney General that they collect and maintain individually
identifiable information regarding all performers, including minor performers,
employed by that person, pursuant to tax, labor, and other laws, labor
agreements, or otherwise pursuant to industry standards, where such information
includes the name, address, and date of birth of the performer, in accordance
with 28 CFR part 75; and [name of entity] has copies of those records or
certifications.” The producer may provide the following statement instead: “I
hereby certify that with respect to foreign primary producers who do not either
collect and maintain the records required by sections 2257 and 2257A of title 18
of the U.S. Code, or certify to the Attorney General that they collect and maintain
individually identifiable information regarding all performers, including minor
performers, whom they employ pursuant to tax, labor, or other laws, labor
agreements, or otherwise pursuant to industry standards, where such information
includes the names, addresses, and dates of birth of the performers, in
accordance with 28 CFR part 75, [name of entity] has taken reasonable steps to
confirm that the performers in any depictions that may potentially constitute
simulated sexually explicit conduct or lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic
area of any person were not minors at the time the depictions were originally
produced.” “Reasonable steps” for purposes of this statement may include, but
are not limited to, a good-faith review of the visual depictions themselves or a
good-faith reliance on representations or warranties from a foreign producer.
(d) Entities covered by each certification. A single certification may cover all or
some subset of all entities owned by the entity making the certification. However,
the names of all sub-entities covered must be listed in such certification and must
be cross-referenced to the matter for which the sub-entity served as the
producer.
(e) Timely submission of certification. An initial certification is due June 16, 2009.
Initial certifications of producers who begin production after December 18, 2008,
but before June 16, 2009, are due on June 16, 2009. Initial certifications of
producers who begin production after June 16, 2009 are due within 60 days of
the start of production. A subsequent certification is required only if there are
material changes in the information the producer certified in the initial
certification; subsequent certifications are due within 60 days of the occurrence
of the material change. In any case where a due date or last day of a time period
falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, the due date or last day of a time
period is considered to run until the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or
federal holiday.