Classification 28: Copyright Matters

The existence of this classification, borrowed from the Department of Justice, was affirmed by a memo signed by J. Edgar Hoover in 1924. It covers investigations of criminal violations of copyrights. Statutory authority is contained in Title 17, section 506. The first case in the classification was opened in 1921. Investigated violations include infringement of a copyright, fraudulent notice of copyright and false representation in application for a copyright. The focus, however (at least after 1972), tends to be on illegal manufacture, distribution, and sale of "bootleg" song sheets, recordings, and motion picture film. The Bureau's laboratory is often involved in efforts to distinguish an original recording from an alleged illegal copy.

NARA holdings for Classification 28: Copyright Matters

The following records under Classification 28: Copyright Matters are not yet described in NARA's online catalog. Please contact NARA's Special Access Program at specialaccess_FOIA@nara.gov with your reference request.

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