Copyright Office Amends Regulations to Provide Option for Electronic Filing of Section 115 Notices

The Copyright Office is amending its regulation for filing notices of intention to obtain a section 115 compulsory license to provide an option for electronic filing. By law, such notices can be filed with the Office only when the Office's public records do not identify the copyright owner of a musical work or include an address at which notice can be served. The amended regulation also clarifies the rules for filing physical notices of intention, clarifies that the Office does not examine notices of intention for legal sufficiency, and includes a Privacy Act advisory statement regarding notices of intention. Note that although the amended regulation provides the legal basis for electronic filing, the electronic filing option is still undergoing testing and will not be immediately available. The amended regulation takes effect January 14, 2013. For more information, including about an ongoing pilot program for electronic filing, go to www.copyright.gov/fedreg/2012/77fr71101.pdf.