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FBI Instructs Wikipedia To Drop FBI Seal

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the teach-the-seal-tricks dept.

eldavojohn writes "The FBI got in contact with Wikipedia's San Francisco office to inform them they were violating the law in regards to 'unauthorized production' of this seal. The FBI quoted the law as saying, 'Whoever possesses any insignia... or any colorable imitation thereof... shall be fined... or imprisoned... or both.' Wikipedia refused to take the image down and stated that the FBI was misquoting the law. The FBI claims that this production of this image is 'particularly problematic, because it facilitates both deliberate and unwitting violations of restrictions by Wikipedia users.' Wikipedia's lawyer, Mike Godwin (please omit certain jokes), contacted the FBI and asserted, 'We are compelled as a matter of law and principle to deny your demand for removal of the FBI Seal from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons,' adding that the firm was 'prepared to argue our view in court.' Wikipedia appears to be holding their ground; we shall see if the FBI comes to their senses or proceeds with litigation."

8 of 485 comments (clear)

  1. Let it roll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Streisand in 3... 2...

  2. Government has bad lawyers? by Manip · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well you know what they say, the grade C lawyers work for the government while the grade A lawyers work for everyone else. As someone remarked about on another site, you almost had to wonder why the FBI picked this little fights, and if someone mistakenly thought Wikipedia was somehow related to the now infamous Wikileaks. Even just reading the FBI's correspondence you can tell they're seriously out of their depth.

    1. Re:Government has bad lawyers? by langelgjm · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Also, this story probably shouldn't be tagged copyright. Assuming the seal was designed by the FBI itself, it's ineligible for copyright as a work of the federal government. (I guess in theory they could have purchased the design and copyright from a third party, but that seems unlikely). If there's a real law at stake, it's not copyright law, probably something to do with impersonating an official, etc.

      Next up, the FBI will be suing Lostpedia for its relationship to Wikileaks (using wiki software) and its name that sounds suspiciously similar to "pedophilia."

      --
      "Anyone who [rips a CD] is probably engaging in copyright infringement." - David O. Carson
    2. Re:Government has bad lawyers? by glassbeat · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I love those. Hilarious how all the stock photos are like, "Hey look at all the diversity in our workforce!" Meanwhile, the directors are, of course, all old white guys.

  3. Re:I guess... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But since they are not breaking the law... wait, what the fuck is the issue here? I have a knife... watch out, I *could* break the law!

  4. It's the Wiki Thing by SwashbucklingCowboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The FBI must think that Wikipedia and Wikileaks are connected somehow.

  5. Re:I guess... by muckracer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    > An FBI agent knocks on some guy's door. The guy asks to see some ID, and the FBI agent produces his official FBI badge. The guy takes one look at it and says,
    > "You can't fool me, that's a fake...it looks nothing like the ones on the X-Files!"

    That's actually an interesting point. How does one deal with authentication issues like that if faced with an Law-Enforcement officer? Sure they can...if they do things right, show you their badge but then what?

    1. Do you have a right to actually take that badge and/or ID into your hands to inspect it fully?

    2. Can you write the details down or make a scan/photo copy?

    3. If you do not believe the ID, the seal or badge (and officer) to be authentically what/who they claim to be, do you still have to do what they say (and can you be charged with, for example, resisting arrest if so)?

    4. If 3 is the case, what are the options to verify such ID's, seals etc.?

  6. Re:I guess... by grumpyman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Dude, seriously, all government stuff are paid for by taxpayers of the US. I don't think we have access to the whitehouse.