Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 797: Publication and sale of photographs of defense installations

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

It is illegal to publish, sell, or distribute photographs or drawings of vital military installations without permission from the commanding officer or higher authority, unless the material is clearly marked as censored. Violation carries a fine and/or up to one year imprisonment.

Read the full statutory text

On and after thirty days from the date upon which the President defines any vital military or naval installation or equipment as being within the category contemplated under section 795 of this title , whoever reproduces, publishes, sells, or gives away any photograph, sketch, picture, drawing, map, or graphical representation of the vital military or naval installations or equipment so defined, without first obtaining permission of the commanding officer of the military or naval post, camp, or station concerned, or higher authority, unless such photograph, sketch, picture, drawing, map, or graphical representation has clearly indicated thereon that it has been censored by the proper military or naval authority, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.