[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 20 (Wednesday, January 30, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 5597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1663]


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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Copyright Royalty Board


Distribution of 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 
Satellite Royalty Funds

AGENCY: Copyright Royalty Board, Library of Congress.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Copyright Royalty Judges are requesting comments as to the 
existence of controversies at Phase I and Phase II for distribution of 
the 1999 through 2005 royalty funds collected under the satellite 
carrier statutory license.

DATES: Comments are due on or before February 29, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent electronically to [email protected]. In the 
alternative, send an original, five copies, and an electronic copy on a 
CD either by mail or hand delivery. Please do not use multiple means of 
transmission. Comments may not be delivered by an overnight delivery 
service other than the U.S. Postal Service Express Mail. If by mail 
(including overnight delivery), comments must be addressed to: 
Copyright Royalty Board, P.O. Box 70977, Washington, DC 20024-0977. If 
hand delivered by a private party, comments must be brought to the 
Library of Congress, James Madison Memorial Building, LM-401, 101 
Independence Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20559-6000. If delivered by a 
commercial courier, comments must be delivered to the Congressional 
Courier Acceptance Site located at 2nd and D Street, NE., Washington, 
DC. The envelope must be addressed to: Copyright Royalty Board, Library 
of Congress, James Madison Memorial Building, LM-403, 101 Independence 
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20559-6000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Strasser, Senior Attorney, or 
Gina Giuffreda, Attorney Advisor, by telephone at (202) 707-7658 or e-
mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Each year, semiannually, satellite carriers must submit royalty 
payments to the Copyright Office as required by the satellite carrier 
statutory license for the privilege of retransmitting over-the-air 
television broadcast stations. 17 U.S.C. 119. These royalties are then 
distributed to copyright owners whose works were included in such 
retransmissions and who timely file a claim for royalties. Distribution 
of the royalties for each calendar year are conducted by the Copyright 
Royalty Judges in two phases. At Phase I, the royalties are divided 
among the representatives of the major categories of copyrightable 
content (movies, sports programming, music, etc.) requesting the 
distribution. At Phase II, the royalties are divided among the various 
copyright owners within each category.
    Final distribution of royalties in any given royalty year may be 
made by agreement of all the copyright owners making claim to the 
funds. If, however, there is a controversy as to the proper 
distribution, either at Phase I or Phase II, the Copyright Royalty 
Judges are required to conduct a proceeding under chapter 8 of the 
Copyright Act. See 17 U.S.C. 119(b)(4)(B).

Request for Comments

    In order to determine whether further proceedings are necessary for 
the distribution of the 1999-2005 satellite royalty funds, the 
Copyright Royalty Judges request that interested copyright claimants 
identify the existence of both Phase I and Phase II controversies. 
Claimants should identify the specific royalty years in which they have 
a controversy, whether the controversy is at Phase I and/or Phase II, 
and the approximate extent of the controversy. In addition, the Judges 
seek comment as to the advisability of consolidating multiple royalty 
years into a single distribution proceeding and what, if any, royalty 
years should be consolidated.

    Dated: January 24, 2008.
James Scott Sledge,
Chief, Copyright Royalty Judge.
 [FR Doc. E8-1663 Filed 1-29-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1410-72-P