Library of Congress December 21, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Request for Information on Designation of Mechanical Licensing Collective and Digital Licensee Coordinator
Document Number: 2018-27743
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-12-21
Agency: Library of Congress, Agencies and Commissions, Copyright Office
The U.S. Copyright Office is issuing a notice of inquiry regarding the Musical Works Modernization Act, title I of the Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act (``MMA''), enacted on October 11, 2018. The MMA made significant modifications to the compulsory license in section 115 of title 17 for making and distributing phonorecords of musical works (the ``mechanical license''). Among the many changes to the section 115 compulsory license, the MMA calls for establishing a collective to manage a new blanket licensing system governing licensed uses of musical works by digital music providers. The Register of Copyrights is directed to designate the mechanical licensing collective and the digital licensee coordinator that will carry out key functions under the new blanket license. The Office now solicits information to identify the appropriate entities to be designated. The information received in response to this notice of inquiry will be publicly posted, and interested members of the public may publicly comment on the submissions. After consideration of the record material, the Register will publish a notice in the Federal Register setting forth the identity of and contact information for the mechanical licensing collective and digital licensee coordinator, and the reasons for the designations.
Group Registration of Short Online Literary Works
Document Number: 2018-27543
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-12-21
Agency: Library of Congress, Agencies and Commissions, Copyright Office
The U.S. Copyright Office is proposing to create a new group registration option for certain types of literary works. To qualify for this option, each work must contain at least 100 but no more than 17,500 words. The works must be created by the same individual, and that individual must be named as the copyright claimant for each work. The works must all be published online within a three-calendar-month period. If these requirements have been met, the applicant may submit up to 50 works with one application and one filing fee. The applicant must complete the online application designated for a ``literary work'' and upload a digital copy of each work. The Office will examine each work to determine if it contains a sufficient amount of creative authorship, and if the Office registers the claim, the registration will cover each work as a separate work of authorship. The Office invites comment on this proposal.
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