Copyright Office Launches Recordation System Pilot
The U.S. Copyright Office launches a limited release pilot for a new document recordation system.
Four-on-the-Floor: Keep the Beat with Music Modernization Act Developments
The following is a guest post by Regan A. Smith, General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights. The Music Modernization Act (MMA) is a historic overhaul to the nation’s music copyright laws. As you may already know, the law creates a new blanket license covering the reproduction and distribution of musical works, to be administered […]
Moving Forward: The Copyright Office During COVID-19
Like many Americans, the Copyright Office staff and the Office as an organization are experiencing unprecedented challenges since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure the safety of staff and visitors, the Library of Congress closed its buildings to the public, including the one that houses the Office, until further notice. In light of this, plus ongoing health and safety guidance from the Library, the Office has taken steps to shut down on-site operations.
The Breakdown: What Songwriters Need to Know about the Music Modernization Act and Royalty Payments
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?
The Roaring Twenties Welcome Artificial Intelligence: How Will It All Play Out?
The music industry in the 1920s was forever changed with the introduction of the radio. Radio enabled music dissemination at an unprecedented rate and allowed live performers to reach millions of people at home, thereby fundamentally altering pre-existing business models. In the 2020s, one hundred years later, the industry is yet again facing a potentially industry-changing new technology. This time, however, it is the force of artificial intelligence (AI) that will transform the way in which business models and the music creation processes work.
Celebrating the Women Leading the Copyright Office
To celebrate women’s history month, I wanted to write about the five women who have served (and are serving) as leaders of the U.S. Copyright Office. Women have led this Office consecutively since November 1993, and their accomplishments are nothing short of incredible. These five lawyers (who all attended either Columbia Law School or George Washington Law) have contributed over 100 years of public service to the Copyright Office, counting all their roles. This blog shows just a snapshot of their accomplishments and contributions to copyright.
TEACHing from a Distance and Copyright Considerations
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 […]
Copyright Office Staff Finds Inspiration in African American Works
As we celebrated the rich cultural contributions of African Americans throughout history, I started exploring creative works inspired by African Americans. Here, three Copyright Office staff members share their stories of creating their own works inspired by works of African Americans.
Send Us Your Litigation Notices by Email
You may have heard that the Supreme Court recently confirmed that you are required to register a U.S. work before you can file a lawsuit alleging that someone has infringed the copyright in the work. But what do you do if you applied to register the work and the Copyright Office refused your application?
The Lifecycle of Copyright: 1924 Works Enter the Public Domain
On January 1, thousands of 1924 works entered the public domain. An important part of the copyright lifecycle, you can use works in the public domain freely to inspire your own creativity. Explore some of the notable additions from George and Ira Gershwin, Buster Keaton, W. E. B. Du Bois, and more.