Top of page
Posted by: Steve Andreadis
The Copyright Office is setting up the Copyright Claims Board (CCB) as directed by the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2020. The CCB will begin hearing cases in Spring 2022.
Posted in: court cases, Inside the Copyright Office, legislation, News and Events, photography, Register of Copyrights, rulemakings, Uncategorized
Posted by: Holland Gormley
Let’s face it. This past year has been tough in many ways. For the music community, this has been especially true. There is one bright spot. On January 1, 2021, big updates were made to the way songwriters can get paid when their music is played online via interactive streaming and download services. Specifically, the …
Posted in: Copyright, legislation, music, Uncategorized
Posted by: Alison Hall
Today is Constitution Day, which is a day of great celebration in copyright. In addition to all of the other treasures in the Constitution, of which there are many, our country's founding document includes the foundation for U.S. copyright law. In article 1, section 8, clause 8, the Constitution states that Congress has the power to enact laws to "promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries." And Congress obliged, passing the first federal copyright law in 1790, updating it throughout the years to address the changing times.
Posted in: Copyright, historical, legislation
Posted by: Holland Gormley
You may have already heard about the Music Modernization Act, or the MMA for short. But do you know how the law will affect the way you get paid?
Posted in: legislation, music, Uncategorized, Website
Posted by: Holland Gormley
The following is a guest post by David Welkowitz, attorney-advisor in the Office of the General Counsel. As the spread of COVID-19 causes schools—particularly colleges and universities—to switch to distance education, it is a good time to review an important part of the educational landscape: copyright. Don’t let the word copyright alarm you; copyright law …
Posted in: Copyright, fair use, legislation, Uncategorized
Posted by: Karyn A. Temple
Today is an exciting day for copyright law. The president has signed the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act, and the United States will soon formally deposit instruments to join this treaty. Five years ago, on June 27, 2013, the international copyright community adopted the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are …
Posted in: accessibility, Copyright, international, legislation
Posted by: George Thuronyi
The following is a guest post by Jason E. Sloan, attorney advisor, Office of General Counsel. Last Wednesday, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the Music Modernization Act (H.R. 5447) by an impressive vote of 415 to 0. Why is this important? Because if the bill is passed by the Senate and enacted into law, …
Posted in: Copyright, legislation, music