Proposed Rules. Notice of proposed rulemaking: Extension of comment and reply comment periods

Agency: Copyright Office, Library of Congress
Action: Notice of proposed rulemaking: Extension of comment and reply comment periods
Citation: FR Doc. 2012-22317 · Docket No. 2012-7 · 37 CFR 201, 210

Summary

The Copyright Office is extending the deadline for filing comments and reply comments regarding its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning regulations for reporting Monthly and Annual Statements of Account for the making and distribution of phonorecords under compulsory licenses obtained pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 115.

Dates

Comments on the proposed regulation must be received in the Office of the General Counsel of the Copyright Office no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on October 25, 2012. Reply comments are due November 26, 2012.

Supplementary Information

On July 27, 2012, the Copyright Office published a notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments concerning a new regulation that would amend the regulations for reporting Monthly and Annual Statements of Account for the making and distribution of phonorecords under the compulsory license, 17 U.S.C. 115, to bring the regulations up to date to reflect recent and pending rate determinations by the Copyright Royalty Judges, which among other things provide new rates for limited downloads, interactive streaming and incidental digital phonorecord deliveries, and to harmonize these reporting requirements with the existing regulations for reporting the making and distribution of physical phonorecords, permanent downloads and ringtones. The notice of proposed rulemaking stated that comments would be due no later than September 25, 2012 and that reply comments would be due October 25, 2012. On September 5, 2012, the Office received a joint motion to extend the comment and reply comment period by thirty days each (i.e. until October 25, 2012 and November 26, 2012). The motion was filed by the Recording Industry Association of America, Inc., National Music Publishers Association, Songwriters Guild of America, Digital Media Association, and Music Reports, Inc., (“Joint Requestors”). The Joint Requestors stated that they represent the most active institutional participants in the mechanical compulsory license system. They stated that it was their view that it would be beneficial to the Copyright Office and to the outcome of the proceeding for the Joint Requestors to formulate and submit consensus positions on as many of the issues raised in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking as possible. They added that a process for formulating such positions is currently underway. However, they offered that additional time would likely be necessary to allow the Joint Requestors to adequately think through the issues, consult further with their respective members, discuss consensus positions, and prepare a written submission setting forth whatever consensus positions the group is able to reach. They stated that without an extension of time, the Joint Requestors will be less likely to reach consensus and provide the Office unified comments concerning the various issues raised in the NPRM. In the interest of giving the Joint Requestors the necessary time to conclude the ongoing process of formulating consensus positions, the Office has decided to grant the request for an extension to file comments and reply comments by thirty days in each case, making the comments due on October 25, 2012 and reply comments due on November 26, 2012). Dated: September 6, 2012. Tanya Sandros, Deputy General Counsel. [FR Doc. 2012-22317 Filed 9-10-12; 8:45 am]