[Federal Register: July 20, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 138)]

[Proposed Rules]               

[Page 38861-38862]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr20jy99-27]                         



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS



Copyright Office



37 CFR Part 255



[Docket No. 99-4 CARP DPRA]



 

Digital Phonorecord Delivery Rate Adjustment Proceeding



AGENCY: Copyright Office, Library of Congress.



ACTION: Notice of initiation of negotiation period.



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SUMMARY: The Copyright Office of the Library of Congress is announcing 

the initiation of the negotiation period for determining reasonable 

rates and terms for digital transmissions that constitute a digital 

phonorecord delivery for the period commencing January 1, 2001. This 

negotiation period is intended to promote an industry-wide agreement as 

to the rates and terms for digital phonorecord deliveries.



DATES: The negotiation period begins on July 20, 1999, and ends on 

December 31, 1999. Petitions for an arbitration for rate adjustment 

must be filed during the year 2000.



ADDRESSES: If sent by mail, an original and five copies of the petition 

should be addressed to: Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (CARP), 

P.O. Box 70977, Southwest Station, Washington, DC 20024. If hand 

delivered, an original and five copies of the petition should be 

brought to: Office of the Copyright General Counsel, James Madison 

Memorial Building, Room LM-403, First and Independence Avenue, SE, 

Washington, DC 20559-6000.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David O. Carson, General Counsel, or 

Tanya M. Sandros, Attorney Advisor, Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel 

(CARP), P.O. Box 70977, Southwest Station, Washington, DC 20024. 

Telephone: (202) 707-8380 or Telefax: (202) 252-3423.



SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 1, 1995, Congress passed the 

Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings Act of 1995 (``Digital 

Performance Right Act''), Pub. L. 104-39, 109 Stat. 336. Among other 

things, it confirms and clarifies that the scope of the statutory 

license to make and distribute phonorecords of nondramatic musical 

compositions, 17 U.S.C. 115, includes the right to distribute or 

authorize distribution by means of a digital transmission which 

constitutes a ``digital phonorecord delivery.'' 17 U.S.C. 115(c)(3)(A). 

A ``digital phonorecord delivery'' is defined as ``each individual 

delivery of a phonorecord by digital transmission of a sound recording 

which results in a specifically identifiable reproduction by or for any 

transmission recipient of a phonorecord of that sound recording * * * 

.'' 17 U.S.C. 115(d).

    The Digital Performance Right Act established that the rate for all 

digital phonorecord deliveries (``DPDs'') made or authorized under a 

compulsory license on or before December 31, 1997, was the same as the 

rate in effect for the making and distribution of physical phonorecords 

for that period. 17 U.S.C. 115(c)(3)(A)(i). For digital phonorecord 

deliveries made or authorized after December 31, 1997, the Digital 

Performance Act established a two-step process for determining the 

terms and rates: either the copyright owners of nondramatic musical 

works and those persons entitled to obtain a license may negotiate the 

rates and terms for the statutory license, or they may participate in a 

Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (``CARP'') proceeding. 17 U.S.C. 

115(c)(3)(A)-(D). Such rates and terms, whether negotiated by the 

parties or determined by a CARP, are to distinguish between ``digital 

phonorecord deliveries where the reproduction or distribution of a 

phonorecord is incidental to the transmission which constitutes the 

digital phonorecord delivery, and (ii) digital phonorecord deliveries 

in general.'' 17 U.S.C. 115(c)(2)(C)-(D). This two-step process is to 

be repeated ``in each fifth calendar year after 1997,'' 17 U.S.C. 

115(c)(3)(F), unless the parties agree to different years for the 

repeating



[[Page 38862]]



and concluding of such proceedings. 17 U.S.C. 115(c)(3)(B)-(F).

    The first proceeding to adjust the royalty rates for the delivery 

of digital phonorecords concluded earlier this year. In that 

proceeding, the parties reached an industry-wide agreement setting the 

rate for the delivery of digital phonorecords and deferring until the 

next scheduled rate adjustment proceeding the determination of the rate 

for the delivery of a digital phonorecord where the reproduction or 

distribution is incidental to the transmission which constitutes a 

digital phonorecord delivery. In accordance with Sec. 251.63(b), the 

Librarian published a notice in the Federal Register requesting public 

comment on the proposed rates and terms. 63 FR 71249 (December 24, 

1998). Upon receiving no comments opposing the rates and terms for the 

delivery of digital phonorecords set forth in the December 24, 1998, 

notice, the Librarian adopted the proposed rates and amended part 255 

of the Copyright Office's rules accordingly. 64 FR 6221 (February 9, 

1999). The newly adopted regulation requires that the two-step process 

for adjusting the royalty rates be repeated in 1999 in order ``to 

determine the applicable rates and terms * * * during the period 

beginning January 1, 2001.'' 37 CFR 255.7.



Initiation of Voluntary Negotiations



    Pursuant to sections 115(c)(3)(B)-(F) and Sec. 255.7, the Copyright 

Office of the Library of Congress is initiating the voluntary 

negotiation period for the determination of reasonable rates and terms 

for the delivery of digital phonorecords and the delivery of a digital 

phonorecord where the reproduction or distribution is incidental to the 

transmission which constitutes a digital phonorecord delivery for the 

two-year period commencing January 1, 2001. The negotiation period 

shall run from the date of publication of this notice in the Federal 

Register and end on December 31, 1999. Such terms and rates shall 

distinguish between (a) digital phonorecord deliveries where the 

reproduction or distribution of a phonorecord is incidental to the 

transmission which constitutes the digital phonorecord delivery, and 

(b) digital phonorecord deliveries in general.



Petitions



    In the absence of a license agreement negotiated under 17 U.S.C. 

115(c)(3)(B)-(C), a party with a significant interest in establishing 

reasonable rates and terms for this compulsory license may file a 

petition to convene a CARP with the Copyright Office. Accordingly, the 

petition shall detail petitioner's interest in the royalty rate 

sufficiently to permit the Librarian of Congress to determine whether 

the petitioner has a ``significant interest'' in the rate. The petition 

must also identify the extent to which the petitioner's interest is 

shared by other owners and users; owners and users with similar 

interests may file a joint petition. 37 CFR 251.62. Petitions should be 

filed with the Copyright Office during the year 2000.



    Dated: July 15, 1999.

David O. Carson,

General Counsel.

[FR Doc. 99-18489 Filed 7-19-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 1410-31-P