U.S. Copyright Office NewsNet, Issue 1, November 3, 1997

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U.S. Copyright Office
NewsNet

November 3, 1997
Issue no. 1
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For additional information, visit the Copyright Office homepage at
http://www.copyright.gov.

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CONTENTS

* News *
1. Federal Register
    a. Arbitration Begins for 1991 Music Claimants in Cable Royalties
    b. Schedule for CARP 1991 Cable Distribution Announced
    c. Best Edition Criteria Amended

2. Legislation
    a. Register Testifies on H.R. 2265
    b. Register Testifies on H.R. 2281 and H.R. 2180
    c. Register Testifies on H.R. 2652 and H.R. 2696

3. Copyright Office
    a. David Carson Appointed General Counsel
    b. Office Delivers Database Report
    c. FAQs on Copyright Office Website

* Calendar *

* To Subscribe/Unsubscribe to NewsNet *

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* NEWS *

----------------Federal Register----------------

For the complete text of Federal Register announcements, visit the
Copyright Office homepage at http://www.copyright.gov .

ARBITRATION PERIOD FOR 1991 MUSIC CLAIMANTS IN CABLE ROYALTIES
BEGINS (62 FR 45687)
The Librarian of Congress announced the beginning of a 180-day arbitration
period to determine the distribution of the 1991 cable compulsory license
royalties in the Music Claimants category. The arbitration proceeding began
Sept. 3. The arbitrators will submit their final report to the Librarian by
March 2, 1998.

SCHEDULE FOR CARP 1991 CABLE DISTRIBUTION ANNOUNCED (62 FR 51162)
The Copyright Office announced the schedule for the 180-day arbitration
period preceding the determination of the distribution of the 1991 cable
royalty fees in the Music Claimants category.

BEST EDITION CRITERIA AMENDED (62 FR 51603)
The Copyright Office amended its "best edition" criteria for deposit of
motion pictures under the mandatory deposit requirements of section 408 of
the copyright code.

-----------------LEGISLATION-----------------

REGISTER TESTIFIES ON H.R. 2265
Register of Copyrights Marybeth Peters testified Sept. 11 before the House
Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property on H.R. 2265, which would
amend current law governing criminal copyright infringement to cover
willful piracy that may cause serious commercial harm despite the
infringer's lack of a profit motive. The Copyright Office supports the
bill's purpose and approach, which will close a significant loophole that
exists in current law.
http://www.copyright.gov/docs/hr2652.html
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:H.R.2265:

REGISTER TESTIFIES ON H.R. 2281 and H.R. 2180
Register of Copyrights Marybeth Peters testified Sept. 16 before the House
Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property on H.R. 2281, the WIPO
Copyright Treaties Implementation Act, and H.R. 2180, the On-Line Copyright
Liability Limitation Act. http://www.copyright.gov/docs/2180_stat.html
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:H.R.2281:

REGISTER TESTIFIES ON H.R. 2652 and H.R. 2696
Register of Copyrights Marybeth Peters testified on H.R 2652, the
"Collections of Information Antipiracy Act," and H.R. 2696, the "Vessel
Hull Design Protection Act," at a hearing of the House Subcommittee on
Courts and Intellectual Property on Oct. 23.
http://www.copyright.gov/docs/hr2652.html
http://www.copyright.gov/docs/hr2696.html
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:H.R.2696:

----------------COPYRIGHT OFFICE-----------------

DAVID CARSON APPOINTED GENERAL COUNSEL
David Carson began duties as Copyright Office General Counsel on Sept. 26,
1997. In private practice in New York and California for 16 years, Carson
is a graduate of the Harvard Law School and member of the bars of
California and New York.
http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/1997/97-156

OFFICE DELIVERS DATABASE REPORT
In April 1997, Senator Orrin Hatch requested that the Copyright Office
produce a study identifying issues and concerns related to database
protection and to develop policy options on the issue of whether a new form
of protection for databases is necessary. On Aug. 18, the Office delivered
its Report on Legal Protection for Databases to the senator and the other
members of Congress. The report is available on the Copyright Office
Website or from the Superintendent of Documents (S/N 030-002-00190-0, $20,
GPO Order Desk (202) 512-1800.
http://www.copyright.gov/reports/

FAQs ON COPYRIGHT OFFICE WEBSITE
A list of 60 of the copyright questions most frequently asked (FAQs) by
members of the public is an addition to the Office's Website.
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/

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* CALENDAR *

The calendar includes selected deadlines.

November 28, 1997: End of Copyright Office Royalty Panel (CARP) proceeding
to determine the statutory license rates and terms for certain digital
subscription transmissions of sound recordings.

March 2, 1998: Final Report from Arbitrators in 1991 Cable Compulsory
License Proceeding Due to Librarian of Congress.

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