Library of Congress 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Copyright Office is issuing a final rule to allow authors and claimants to replace or remove personally identifiable information (``PII'') from the Office's online registration catalog. This rule allows authors and claimants, or their authorized representatives, to request the replacement or removal of certain PII that is requested by the Office and collected on a registration application, such as a home addresses or personal phone numbers, from the Office's internet-accessible public catalog, while retaining that information in the Office's offline records as required by law. The rule also codifies an existing practice that removes extraneous PII, such as driver's license numbers, social security numbers, banking information, and credit card information, on the Office's own volition or upon request by authors, claimants, or their authorized representatives.

The Copyright Royalty Judges announce settlement of controversies and requests for partial distribution of cable television distant retransmission royalties claimed by National Public Radio (NPR) and Music Claimants. National Public Radio appeared in this proceeding on its own behalf and on behalf of its NPR Members retransmitted as distant signals by cable television operators. Music Claimants include Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), as well as SESAC, Inc.

The Copyright Royalty Judges announce receipt of two notices of intent to audit the 2013, 2014, and 2015 statements of account submitted by broadcasters Cox Radio (Docket No. 17-CRB-0009-AU) and Hubbard Broadcasting (Docket No. 17-CRB-0008-AU) concerning royalty payments each made pursuant to two statutory licenses.

The United States Copyright Office is undertaking a public study to assess the current state of U.S. law recognizing and protecting moral rights for authors, specifically the rights of attribution and integrity. As part of this study, the Office will review existing law on the moral rights of attribution and integrity, including provisions found in title 17 of the U.S. Code as well as other federal and state laws, and whether any additional protection is advisable in this area. To support this effort and provide thorough assistance to Congress, the Office is seeking public input on a number of questions.