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U.S. Copyright Office Issues a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Related to Termination Rights, Royalty Distributions, Ownership Transfers, Disputes, and the Music Modernization Act’s Statutory Mechanical Blanket License

Issue No. 1022 - September 26, 2023

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The U.S. Copyright Office has published a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking modifying an earlier proposed rule regarding the applicability of the derivative works exception to termination rights under the Copyright Act to the statutory blanket mechanical license established under the Music Modernization Act. The supplemental notice also expands the proposed rule’s scope to address matters relevant to identifying the proper payee to whom the mechanical licensing collective must distribute royalties.

The supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking and instructions on how to submit comments are available here. Initial written comments must be received no later than October 26, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. eastern time. Written reply comments must be received no later than November 13, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. eastern time.