Copyright Office Report On Copyright And The Music Marketplace

A Report Of The Register Of Copyrights, Copyright And The Music Marketplace (U.S. Copyright Office Feb. 2015).  Link here.

Public performance in S R?

Copyright Office supports public performance rights in sound recording. What would this mean for broadcasters who are currently exempt?

New congressional bills introduced on Dec 18 2007. Key provisions proposed:

Expand 114 to broadcasting. Reach all transmissions in all formats. Possible carve out for small broadcasters with a $5000 cap annual fee. Similar for non commercial broadcasters with $ 1000 annual fee cap.

Exempt religious use and background use.

Explicitly say no effect on publishers rights.

Why are these important? Parity for platforms and among copyright owners.

Why oppose? Promotional value of broadcasting. But that weakened by internet broadcasts. FCC? Public interest obligations.

Pre 72 protection?

At the Copyright Office Comes to New York. Mary Beth Peters notes some voices in copyright office advocate for federal term to pre 72 sound recordings preempting current 50 state laws currently controlling.

[Note: Today's posts are "mobile", as OTCS reported live from 'The Copyright Office Comes to New York'.]