Non-Commercial Use of the Great Seal of the United States
<p>I would like to know if the Great Seal (with modified text, see here <a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Mwo6K.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://i.stack.imgur.com/Mwo6K.jpg</a>) could be used as in a non-commercial way that doesn't go against the law. </p>

<p>There is actually a law against using the Great Seal.  <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/713" rel="nofollow noreferrer">18 U.S. Code § 713</a> says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>(a) Whoever knowingly displays any printed or other likeness of the great
  seal of the United States, or of the seals of the President or the
  Vice President of the United States, or the seal of the United States
  Senate, or the seal of the United States House of Representatives, or
  the seal of the United States Congress, or any facsimile thereof, in,
  or in connection with, any advertisement, poster, circular, book,
  pamphlet, or other publication, public meeting, play, motion picture,
  telecast, or other production, or on any building, monument, or
  stationery, for the purpose of conveying, or in a manner reasonably
  calculated to convey, a false impression of sponsorship or approval by
  the Government of the United States or by any department, agency, or
  instrumentality thereof, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned
  not more than six months, or both.<br>
  ...<br>
  (e) Whoever, except as directed by the United States Congress, or the
  Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives,
  acting jointly on its behalf, knowingly uses, manufactures,
  reproduces, sells or purchases for resale, either separately or
  appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seal
  of the United States Congress, or any substantial part thereof, except
  for manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of the
  Government of the United States, shall be fined under this title or
  imprisoned not more than six months, or both.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I am not sure if someone could make a First Amendment argument, but it seems likely.  I note that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Seal_of_the_United_States" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia</a> isn't afraid to have <em>pictures</em> of the Great Seal on the webpage about it.  Also, a modified Great Seal was used in the film <em>National Treasure: Book of Secrets</em> (although it purported to be a presidential seal).  I also found an <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20051028070028/http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/10/26/odd.onion.reut/index.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">instance</a> where the White House officially asked the Onion to stop using the Presidential seal, but it's unclear what happened with that.  The Onion did not immediately remove the seal, however, and I think we would have heard if they had been arrested.  I do not believe that Wikipedia, the filmmakers, and the Onion would have done this if there was a serious risk of six months in prison.  In each of those cases, there was a strong First Amendment speech/press use, and there was no risk of anyone thinking the seal was being used for a government endorsement.</p>

<p>There is an executive order (visible from the "Notes" section of the link to the law) regarding the use of the seals of the President and Vice President:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Section 1. Except as otherwise provided by law, the knowing
  manufacture, reproduction, sale, or purchase for resale of the Seals
  or Coats of Arms of the President or the Vice President of the United
  States, or any likeness or substantial part thereof, shall be
  permitted only for the following uses:</p>
  
  <p>(a) Use by the President or Vice President of the United States;</p>
  
  <p>(b) Use in encyclopedias, dictionaries, books, journals, pamphlets,
  periodicals, or magazines incident to a description or history of
  seals, coats of arms, heraldry, or the Presidency or Vice Presidency;</p>
  
  <p>(c) Use in libraries, museums, or educational facilities incident to
  descriptions or exhibits relating to seals, coats of arms, heraldry,
  or the Presidency or Vice Presidency;</p>
  
  <p>(d) Use as an architectural embellishment in libraries, museums, or
  archives established to house the papers or effects of former
  Presidents or Vice Presidents;</p>
  
  <p>(e) Use on a monument to a former President or Vice President;</p>
  
  <p>(f) Use by way of photographic or electronic visual reproduction in
  pictures, moving pictures, or telecasts of bona fide news content;</p>
  
  <p>(g) Such other uses for exceptional historical, educational, or
  newsworthy purposes as may be authorized in writing by the Counsel to
  the President.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This provides several legal ways to use the Presidential seals.  However, the seal of the President is not the same as the Great Seal, so this technically does not apply if you want to use the Great Seal in particular.</p>

<p>The "real, original" Great Seal is a US government work created in 1782, and is not protected by copyright. There have been a number of derivative works based on that created since then. There may be some contemporary version which is (in part) protected by copyright, in which case you would have to contact the copyright holder. </p>

united-states copyright criminal-law fair-use