U.S. Copyright Office
NewsNet

April 8, 1998
Issue 8
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For additional information, visit the Copyright Office homepage at http://www.copyright.gov.

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CONTENTS

* Legislative News *

   a. Office Testifies before Telecommunications Subcommittee
   b. Term Extension Is Amended, Passes House
   c. House Subcommittee Marks Up H.R. 3210
   d. House Judiciary Committee Marks Up WIPO Treaties Implementation Act
   e. Database Bill Reported Out

* Calendar*

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---------------LEGISLATIVE NEWS-----------------

For more information on legislation, visit Thomas at http://thomas.loc.gov

OFFICE TESTIFIES BEFORE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
On Apr. 1 General Counsel David Carson presented testimony for the Register of Copyrights before the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade and Consumer Protection on H.R. 2921, the "Multichannel Video Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 1997," which would stay the rate increase of compulsory copyright fees paid by satellite carriers until 120 days after the Federal Communications Commission issues a report on the new fees. Carson also testified in support of H.R. 3210, the "Copyright Compulsory License Improvement Act."

HOUSE PASSES COPYRIGHT TERM EXTENSION BILL
On March 25 the House passed, as amended, H.R. 2589, the "Copyright Term Extension Act" and sent it to the Senate, where it was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary on Mar. 26. The bill would increase the basic term of copyright an additional 20 years, to make it the life of the author plus 70 years. The two amendments accepted by the House were the Sensenbrenner amendment, which is the "Fairness in Musical Licensing Act of 1998," and the Coble amendment, which deals with contractual obligations related to transfers of rights in motion pictures.

HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE MARKS UP H.R. 3210
H.R. 3210, the "Copyright Compulsory License Improvement Act," was marked up on Mar. 18 by the House Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property. An amendment by Mr. Boucher that would delay the satellite rate increase was accepted by the subcommittee. The bill as amended was forwarded to the Judiciary Committee, where it awaits consideration.

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MARKS UP WIPO TREATIES IMPLEMENTATION ACT
On April 1, the House Judiciary Committee marked up H.R. 2281, the "WIPO Copyright Treaties Implementation Act," and ordered it reported, as amended. The committee incorporated into the bill two other pieces of legislation, H.R. 3209, the "On-Line Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act," and H.R. 72, the "Computer Maintenance Competition Assurance Act." A commitment was made at markup that a further amendment to reflect a reported agreement on service provider liability issues would be considered as a "manager's amendment," when H.R. 2281 comes to the floor of the House.

DATABASE BILL REPORTED OUT
H.R. 2652, the "Collections of Information Antipiracy Act," was considered and marked up by the House Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property and forwarded to the House Judiciary Committee on March 18. On Mar. 24 the full committee held its markup and reported the bill out by voice vote.


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* CALENDAR *


April 17, 1998: Publication date in Federal Register of eighth list of Notices of Intent to Enforce a Copyright restored under the URAA.

May 11, 1998: Written comments due in Copyright Office on proposed new fees for special services.

July 28, 1998: Arbitrators in proceeding for adjustment of rates for noncommercial educational broadcasting compulsory license will file written report with Librarian of Congress.

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