Notice2023-27554
Notice of Intent To Audit
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 15, 2023
Issuing agencies
Library of CongressCopyright Office, Library of Congress
Abstract
The U.S. Copyright Office is announcing receipt of a notice of intent to conduct an audit pursuant to the section 115 blanket license.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 240 (Friday, December 15, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 240 (Friday, December 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86946-86947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27554]
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Copyright Office
[Docket No. 2023-7]
Notice of Intent To Audit
AGENCY: U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
ACTION: Public notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Copyright Office is announcing receipt of a notice of
intent to conduct an audit pursuant to the section 115 blanket license.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rhea Efthimiadis, Assistant to the
General Counsel, by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#09646c6f7d496a6679707b606e617d276e667f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f69b939082b69599868f849f919e82d8919980">[email protected]</span></a> or telephone at 202-
707-8350.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music
Modernization Act (the ``MMA'') substantially modified the compulsory
``mechanical'' license for reproducing and distributing phonorecords of
nondramatic musical works under 17 U.S.C. 115.\1\ It did so by
switching from a song-by-song licensing system to a blanket licensing
regime that became available on January 1, 2021 (the ``license
availability date''), administered by a mechanical licensing collective
(the ``MLC'') designated by the Copyright Office (the ``Office'').\2\
Digital music providers (``DMPs'') are able to obtain this new
statutory mechanical blanket license (the ``blanket license'') to make
digital phonorecord deliveries of nondramatic musical works, including
in the form of permanent downloads, limited downloads, or interactive
streams (referred to in the statute as ``covered activity'' where such
activity qualifies for a blanket license), subject to various
requirements, including reporting and payment obligations.\3\ The MLC
is tasked with collecting royalties from DMPs under the blanket license
and distributing them to musical work copyright owners.\4\
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\1\ Public Law 115-264, 132 Stat. 3676 (2018).
\2\ 17 U.S.C. 115(d).
\3\ Id.
\4\ Id.
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In connection with the new blanket license, the MMA also provides
for certain audit rights. Under the MMA, the MLC may periodically audit
DMPs operating under the blanket license to verify the accuracy of
royalty payments made by DMPs to the MLC.\5\ Likewise, musical work
copyright owners may periodically audit the MLC to verify the accuracy
of royalty payments made by the MLC to copyright owners.\6\ To commence
an audit, a notice of intent to conduct an audit must be filed with the
Office and delivered to the party(ies) being audited.\7\ The Office
must then cause notice to be published in the Federal Register within
45 days of receipt.\8\
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\5\ Id. at 115(d)(4)(D).
\6\ Id. at 115(d)(3)(L).
\7\ Id. at 115(d)(3)(L)(i)(IV), (d)(4)(D)(i)(IV).
\8\ Id. at 115(d)(3)(L)(i)(IV), (d)(4)(D)(i)(IV).
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On November 9, 2023, the Office received a notice of intent to
conduct an audit of the MLC from Bridgeport
[[Page 86947]]
Music, Inc. for the period of January 1, 2021, through December 31,
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2023.
Dated: December 11, 2023.
Suzanne V. Wilson,
General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights.
[FR Doc. 2023-27554 Filed 12-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1410-30-P
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