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U.S. Copyright Office
NewsNet

December 1, 1998
Issue 27
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For additional information, visit the Copyright Office homepage at
http://www.copyright.gov.

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CONTENTS

* News *
Federal Register
   1. Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings and Ephemeral
       Recordings (63 FR 65555)
   2. Notice and Recordkeeping for Making and Distribution of
       Phonorecords: Reopening of Reply Comment Period   (63 FR 65567)

* Calendar *

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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.

DIGITAL PERFORMANCE RIGHT IN SOUND RECORDINGS
AND EPHEMERAL RECORDINGS (63 FR 65555)
As required by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, the
Copyright Office is initiating the 6-month voluntary negotiation periods
for negotiating terms and rates for two compulsory licenses. One license
allows public performances of sound recordings by means of eligible
nonsubscription transmissions and by new subscription services. The
second license allows the making of an ephemeral phonorecord of a sound
recording in furtherance of making a permitted public performance of the
sound recording. In addition, the Office is adopting procedural
regulations to implement the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

OFFICE REOPENS COMMENT PERIOD ON NOTICE AND RECORDKEEPING
FOR MAKING AND DISTRIBUTION OF PHONORECORDS (63 FR 65567)
On Sept. 4 the Office published a notice of inquiry (63 FR 47215)
seeking comments on the requirements by which copyright owners receive
reasonable notice of the use of their works in the making and
distribution of phonorecords under the Digital Performance Right in
Sound Recordings Act of 1995, which requires the Librarian of Congress
to establish regulations to ensure proper payment to copyright owners
for the use of their works. Comments were timely filed by various
organizations, and reply comments were due on Nov. 18. However, the
Office has decided to reopen the comment period at the request of some
of the parties, due to the complexity of the issues. Reply comments are
due Dec. 11.

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* CALENDAR *

November 27: Effective date of the initiation of the 6-month voluntary
negotiation periods for two compulsory licenses, as required by the
Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998

December 7: Deadline for submission of comments on the study of the
promotion of distance education through digital technologies

December 11:  Extended deadline for filing reply comments on the
requirements by which copyright owners shall receive reasonable notice
of the use of their works in the making and distribution of phonorecords

December 28: Effective date of procedural regulations to implement the
Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998
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