Termination Rights, Royalty Distributions, Ownership Transfers, Disputes, and the Music Modernization Act

• Citation: 88 FR 70412
• Published date: 11 October 2023
• Record Number: 2023-22485
• Court: Copyright Office,Library Of Congress

Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 195 (Wednesday, October 11, 2023)

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 195 (Wednesday, October 11, 2023)]
                [Proposed Rules]
                [Pages 70412-70413]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2023-22485]
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                LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
                Copyright Office
                37 CFR Part 210
                [Docket No. 2022-5]
                Termination Rights, Royalty Distributions, Ownership Transfers,
                Disputes, and the Music Modernization Act
                AGENCY: U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
                ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of
                comment period.
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                SUMMARY: The U.S. Copyright Office is extending the deadline to submit
                comments in connection with a supplemental notice of proposed
                rulemaking regarding the applicability of the derivative works
                exception to termination rights under the Copyright Act to the new
                statutory mechanical blanket license established by the Music
                Modernization Act and other matters relevant to identifying the proper
                payee to whom the mechanical licensing collective must distribute
                royalties.
                DATES: Initial written comments are due no later than 11:59 p.m.
                Eastern Time on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Written reply comments are
                due no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, November 28,
                2023.
                ADDRESSES: For reasons of governmental efficiency, the Copyright Office
                is using the regulations.gov system for the submission and posting of
                public comments in this proceeding. All comments are therefore to be
                submitted electronically through regulations.gov. Specific instructions
                for submitting comments are available on the Copyright Office's website
                at https://copyright.gov/rulemaking/mma-termination. If electronic
                submission of comments is not feasible due to lack of access to a
                computer or the internet, please contact the Copyright Office using the
                contact information below for special instructions.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rhea Efthimiadis, Assistant to the
                General Counsel, by email at [email protected] or telephone at 202-
                707-8350.
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 26, 2023, the U.S. Copyright
                Office issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking seeking
                comments from the public on questions regarding the applicability of
                the derivative works exception to termination rights under the
                Copyright Act to the new statutory mechanical blanket license
                established by the Music Modernization Act and other matters relevant
                to identifying the proper payee to whom the mechanical licensing
                collective must distribute royalties.\1\ The supplemental notice set an
                October 26, 2023 deadline for submitting initial comments and a
                November 13, 2023 deadline for reply comments.
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                 \1\ 88 FR 65908 (Sept. 26, 2023).
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                [[Page 70413]]
                 To ensure that members of the public have sufficient time to
                prepare responses to the Office, and to ensure that the Office can
                proceed on a timely basis with its inquiry of the issues identified in
                its supplemental notice with the benefit of a complete record, the
                Office is extending the comment period deadlines as set forth here.
                Initial written comments will now be due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on
                Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Reply comments will now be due by 11:59
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                p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.
                 Dated: October 5, 2023.
                Suzanne V. Wilson,
                General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights.
                [FR Doc. 2023-22485 Filed 10-10-23; 8:45 am]
                BILLING CODE 1410-30-P