Copyright Office Announces Alternative Methods for Filing Claims to 2001 DART Royalty Funds

Due to a serious disruption in the delivery of mail, the Copyright Office is announcing alternative methods for filing claims to the 2001 DART royalty funds. Claimants may submit their claims via electronic mail as file attachments to [email protected] Office has devised forms for both single and joint DART claims, which are posted on its website. These forms, and only these forms, may be submitted online or filed electronically as a file attachment. Claims may also be filed via facsimile transmission to (202) 252-3423. Solely in the case of claims to the 2001 DART royalties the Office is waiving the requirement of "the original signature of the claimant or of the duly authorized representative of the claimant" when claims are filed electronically or by facsimile transmission. The Office is also waiving the prohibition of facsimile filing solely in the case of claims to the 2001 DART royalties.

Claimants may still file claims by mail but are urged not to do so because significant delays in processing may result in an untimely filing. Claimants are encouraged to deliver their claims personally to the Office of the Copyright General Counsel, James Madison Memorial Building, Room 403, First Street and Independence Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. Private carriers should not be used for such delivery because their packages will be sent to an off-site facility for treatment before being delivered to the Office. This may result in an untimely filing.

Claims filed electronically must be received on the Office's server by 11:59 p.m. EST on February 28, 2002. Claims filed by facsimile transmission must be received in the Office by 5 p.m. EST on February 28, 2002. Claims hand delivered must be received in the Office by 5 p.m. EST on February 28, 2002. Claims filed by mail must by postmarked by February 28, 2002, and the claimant is urged to retain a stamped certified mail receipt (PS Form 3800) as proof of timely filing. (read details)

"The Copyright Office Comes to California"

Presented in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of California, this program will be offered in Los Angeles on March 4 and in San Francisco on March 6. Speakers include the Register of Copyrights and other top officials from the Copyright Office as well as private sector representatives. The activity has been approved for MCLE credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of 6.5 hours. For further information and to register, go to www.calbar.org/ipsection/02copyright.htm.