[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 228 (Friday, November 27, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 65567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31659]


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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Copyright Office

37 CFR Part 201

[Docket No. RM 98-7A]


Notice and Recordkeeping for Making and Distributing Phonorecords

AGENCY: Copyright Office, Library of Congress.

ACTION: Reopening of reply comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Copyright Office of the Library of Congress is reopening 
the reply comment period on the requirements by which copyright owners 
shall receive reasonable notice of the use of their works in the making 
and distribution of phonorecords.

DATES: Comment period is reopened to December 11, 1998.

ADDRESSES: If sent by mail, an original and ten copies of the reply 
comments should be addressed to: David O. Carson, General Counsel, 
Copyright GC/I&R, P.O. Box 70400, Southwest Station, Washington, D.C. 
20024. If hand delivered, an original and ten copies of the reply 
comments should be brought to: Office of the Copyright General Counsel, 
James Madison Memorial Building, Room LM-403, First and Independence 
Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20559-6000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David O. Carson, General Counsel, or 
Tanya M. Sandros, Attorney Advisor, Copyright GC/I&R, P.O. Box 70400, 
Southwest Station, Washington, D.C. 20024. Telephone (202) 707-8380 or 
Telefax (202) 707-8366.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 4, 1998, the Copyright Office 
published a notice of inquiry seeking comments on the requirements by 
which copyright owners shall receive reasonable notice of the use of 
their works in the making and distribution of phonorecords. 63 FR 47215 
(September 4, 1998). The Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings 
Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-39 (1995), requires the Librarian of Congress 
to establish these regulations to ensure proper payment to copyright 
owners for the use of their works. 17 U.S.C. 115(c)(3)(D). Comments 
were timely filed by the American Society of Composers, Authors and 
Publishers (ASCAP), Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), and the National Music 
Publishers' Association, Inc. (NMPA) and the Recording Industry 
Association of America, Inc. (RIAA). Reply comments were due to be 
filed on November 18, 1998.
    The Office, however, has decided to reopen the deadline for filing 
reply comments by a period of two weeks beginning from the date of 
publication of this notice. The Office takes this action in response to 
a request to reopen the reply comment period by two weeks to December 
2, 1998. It is argued in the request that the complexity of the issues 
involved in the adoption of notice and recordkeeping procedures for the 
making and distribution of phonorecords merits additional time in which 
to file reply comments. The Office agrees with this analysis and thus 
grants the request to reopen the reply comment period. The Office sets 
the reopened deadline for filing reply comments two weeks from 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register in order to afford 
all interested parties sufficient time in which to file their reply 
comments.

    Dated: November 23, 1998.
David O. Carson,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 98-31659 Filed 11-25-98; 8:45 am]
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