Copyright Office December 7, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Copyright Office is issuing interim regulations pursuant to the Musical Works Modernization Act, title I of the recently enacted Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act. This interim rule amends the Office's existing regulations pertaining to the compulsory license to make and distribute phonorecords of musical works so as to conform the existing regulations to the new law, including with respect to the operation of notices of intention and statements of account, and to make other minor technical updates. To be clear, this interim rule is generally directed at the present transition period before a blanket license is offered by a mechanical licensing collective and does not include regulatory updates that may be required in connection with the future offering of that blanket license; such updates will be the subject of future rulemakings. These regulations are issued on an interim basis with opportunity for public comment to avoid delay in making these necessary updates and clarifications and because they are technical in nature. The Office welcomes comment on these interim regulations.