Copyright Office 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Copyright Office is seeking comment on issues associated with the definition of the term ``cable system'' under the Copyright Act and the Copyright Office's implementing rules. The Copyright Office is also seeking comment on the National Cable and Telecommunications Association's request for the creation of subscriber groups for the purposes of eliminating the ``phantom signal'' phenomenon. Further, the Copyright Office seeks comment on several other issues related to the existence of phantom signals on certain cable systems. The purpose of this Notice of Inquiry is to solicit input on, and address possible solutions to, the complex issues presented in this proceeding.

The Copyright Office is publishing a final rule amending its rules governing applications for registration of claims for renewal term of copyright. The regulations take into account the fact that, since January 1, 2006, all applications for renewal have necessarily related to works which are subject to automatic renewal and, thus, are already in their renewal terms, making impossible any 28th-year registration of claims to the renewal term.

The Copyright Office of the Library of Congress is announcing the termination of the proceedings in the above-captioned dockets conducted under the former Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel system. The Office is also providing notice that the authority to set rates or to make determinations regarding the future distribution of royalty funds associated with these proceedings will be transferred to the Copyright Royalty Board.

The Copyright Office is undergoing an extensive business process reengineering (BPR) initiative of many of its internal work systems, including registration and recordation procedural systems, to enhance the delivery of its services to the public. The implementation of an online registration system is a key component of BPR, and it requires that the Office amend its regulations governing the procedures by which the public submits, and the Office processes, copyright registrations and recordations. These interim rules identify the principal changes and upgrades to the registration system and announce the amendments to the regulations to accommodate online registration. These changes will become effective with the commencement of the Beta test phase of the electronic, online registration system in July 2007. The Beta test phase will be limited to selected participants until system testing is complete, at which time the Office will open the electronic registration system to the public.

The Copyright Office of the Library of Congress is publishing a final rule establishing a lower basic registration fee of $35 for copyright claims submitted electronically. This fee applies to all registrations where the application is submitted electronically, including those registrations where the deposit materials cannot be sent electronically together with the application. At the same time, the Office is retaining its current fee of $45 for processing paper applications for basic copyright registration of a copyright claim. The dual fee structure reflects the reduced cost of processing electronic claims and serves as an incentive to the public to utilize the new online, electronic registration system. On or after July 1, 2007, the Copyright Office will begin accepting a limited number of electronic submissions of copyright claims through the Internet and the new fee will apply to these applications. The adoption of the new rule assumes that no legislative action will take place before July 1, 2007.

In July 2007, the Copyright Office will initiate a beta testing phase in the development of its automated registration system, electronic Copyright Office (eCO). Requests to participate in eCO beta testing are being accepted from the public at this time. Participants will be selected in the order that requests are received and based on an array of submission criteria, and basic registration claims will be accepted at a reduced rate established for electronic filings.

The Copyright Office is holding public hearings on issues related to the operation of, and continued necessity for, the cable and satellite statutory licenses under the Copyright Act.

The United States Copyright Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announce a public roundtable discussion concerning the work at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) on a proposed Treaty on the Protection of the Rights of Broadcasting Organizations. Members of the public are invited to attend and observe the roundtable, or to participate in the roundtable discussion, on the topics outlined in the supplementary information section of this notice.

The Copyright Office is making a technical amendment in the regulations regarding fees for recordation of an interim or amended designation of agent to receive notification of claimed infringement under the Copyright Act.