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U.S. Copyright Office
NewsNet

October 29, 1998
Issue 24
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For additional information, visit the Copyright Office homepage at
http://www.copyright.gov

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CONTENTS

* News*

Legislative News: President Signs Digital Millennium Copyright Act

Federal Register: Designation of Agent to Receive Notification of Claimed
Infringement

* Calendar*

* To Subscribe/Unsubscribe to NewsNet*

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* NEWS*

----------------Legislative News----------------

PRESIDENT SIGNS DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT
On Oct. 28 President Clinton signed into law H.R. 2281, the landmark
Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (DMCA). A comprehensive bill
that adds two new chapters to title 17, the law deals with numerous
significant digital issues. In addition to providing for the
implementation of two 1996 World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO) copyright treaties, it limits certain infringement liability for
online service providers, permits a temporary reproduction of a computer
program made by activating a computer in the course of maintenance or
repair, and provides design protection for boat hulls. It clarifies the
continuing policy role of the Copyright Office and contains numerous
*miscellaneous,* but significant, provisions. For more information, see
NewsNet 22 (Oct. 20) or go to Thomas to read the legislation (see address
below). The Copyright Office website expects to have a detailed summary
within the next week or two. With the exception of certain portions of
the legislation relating to the implementation of the WIPO treaties, the
DMCA is effective immediately.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:H.R.2281:

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

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

DESIGNATION OF AGENT TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF CLAIMED INFRINGEMENT

The Copyright Office issued interim regulations Oct. 29 governing the
designation by online service providers of an agent to receive
notifications of claimed infringement. The limitations on copyright
infringement for service providers relating to material online, as
specified in the Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation
Act--which the President signed Oct. 28 as part of the Digital Millennium
Copyright Act--apply only if the service provider has designated an agent
with the Copyright Office and through their publicly accessible website
to receive notifications of claimed infringement. The Copyright Office
issued these interim regulations without opportunity for comment due to
the necessity of having regulations in place immediately upon the law*s
enactment. The interim regulations will be replaced by more complete
regulations to be promulgated following notice and opportunity for
comment. They are available now at the Copyright Office website at
http://www.copyright.gov

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* CALENDAR *

November 1, 1998: Deadline for comments on the notice of systems of
records

November 1, 1998: Effective date of systems of records unless the
Copyright Office publishes notice to the contrary

November 23, 1998: Deadline for filing comments on the specialty station
list published in the Federal Register on Oct. 23, 1998

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