FBI vs. Wikipedia: "FBI Has Not Authorized Use of the FBI Seal on Wikipedia"

NEW YORK (CBS/CNET) The Federal Bureau of Investigation has sent a nasty letter to Wikipedia demanding that the FBI's official seal be removed from an article about the law enforcement agency due to authorization and counterfeiting issues.

"The FBI has not authorized use of the FBI seal on Wikipedia," said the letter to Wikipedia obtained by The New York Times. "The inclusion of a high quality graphic of the FBI seal on Wikipedia is particularly problematic, because it facilitates both deliberate and unwitting" copying and reprinting of the FBI's seal.

The letter, dated on July 22, goes on to threaten legal action if Wikipedia fails to comply the request to remove the seal.

So what does Wikipedia think about all of this?

CNET reports that the free, web-based, collaborative encyclopedia project thinks the FBI may have misread the law it cited in its angry letter.

"While we appreciate your desire to revise the statute to reflect your expansive vision of it, the fact is that we must work with the actual language of the statute, not the aspirational version of Section 701 that you forwarded to us," Mike Godwin, general counsel for Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit company that runs Wikipedia, wrote the FBI in response.

Godwin argues that Section 701 prohibits the unauthorized reproduction of the insignia on badges and identification cards - not encyclopedia articles.

"The use of the image on Wikipedia is not for the purpose of deception or falsely to represent anyone as an agent of the federal government," Godwin wrote in the letter obtained by The New York Times. "We are in contact with outside counsel in this matter, and we are prepared to argue our view in court."

FBI spokesperson William Carter defended the July 22 letter, saying there is no exception to the rule.

"You can't use the FBI seal, by law, unless you have the permission of the FBI director," Carter told the newspaper.

Despite the FBI's request, Wikipedia continues to display the official seal in high quality on its page about the FBI.

Story Contributed by Steven Musil, News Editor at CNET News

Beaver County, Bradys Run Lake drained for dredging

Bradys Run Lake is being drained as part of a $2.1 million dredging project to remove silt.

Beaver County Public Works Director James Camp said workers are waiting for silt in the lake bottom to drain before starting the dredging. Meanwhile, they are cleaning out upstream sedimentation basins and preparing several park areas to receive material dredged from the lake.

Camp said it would be several weeks before dredging commences. The project is scheduled for completion in May.

Maybe this can be done to remove some invasive species like the Asian Carp.

Santa Monica College Demolition Plan

SANTA MONICA – Santa Monica College Board of Trustees’ plan to demolish Corsair Stadium, not retrofit and remodel, is angering local neighbors. Santa Monica College Board of Trustees last night met to review and vote on a final EIR (Environmental Impact Review) which encompasses multiple structures being demolished.

The structure proposed by Santa Monica College for demolition sparking the most reaction is Corsair Stadium, the 3 story cement stadium on 16th street. Plans for that structure are dominatingSanta Monica news this morning.

Other structures proposed by Santa Monica College for demolition are The Liberal Arts classroom (Pearl St), the Letters and Science building, the Math Complex, the Library Village, the P.E. building, and the ESL building.

The Friends of Sunset Park community (FSOP) is urging Santa Monica College to retrofit and remodel, not demolish and rebuild, the Stadium. They write “FOSP Board of Directors urges the SMC Board of Trustees to (1) direct college staff to re-route the planned access to parking under the new Student Services building to Pico Blvd., and (2) consider the health and welfare of nearby families and school children and, therefore, choose to RETROFIT and REMODEL instead of continuing to tear down and replace every building on the main campus.”