§ 539.204 Exempt transactions.

(a) Personal communications. The prohibitions contained in this part do not apply to any postal, telegraphic, telephonic, or other personal communication, which does not involve the transfer of anything of value.

(b) Information or informational materials.

(1) The prohibitions contained in this part do not apply to the importation from any country, or to the exportation to any country, whether commercial or otherwise, regardless of format or medium of transmission, of any information or informational materials as defined in § 539.308, or any transaction directly incident to such importation or exportation.

(2) Paragraph (b)(1) of this section does not exempt from regulation or authorize transactions related to information or informational materials not fully created and in existence at the date of the transaction, or to the substantive or artistic alteration or enhancement of information or informational materials, or to the provision of marketing and business consulting services. Examples of prohibited transactions include, but are not limited to, payment of advances for information or informational materials not yet created and completed (with the exception of prepaid subscriptions for mass-market magazines and other periodical publications that are widely-circulated); importation into the United States of services to market, produce or co-produce, create, or assist in the creation of information or informational materials; and payment of royalties to a designated foreign person with respect to income received for enhancements or alterations made by U.S. persons to informational or informational materials imported from a designated foreign person.

(3) Paragraph (b)(1) of this section does not exempt from regulation or authorize the importation into the United States of or transactions incident to the importation into the United States or leasing of telecommunications transmission facilities (such as satellite links or dedicated lines) for use in the transmission of any data.

(c) Travel. The prohibitions contained in this part do not apply to transactions ordinarily incident to travel to or from any country, including importation of accompanied baggage for personal use, maintenance within any country including payment of living expenses and acquisition of goods or services for personal use, and arrangement or facilitation of such travel including nonscheduled air, sea, or land voyages.