[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 113 (Monday, June 14, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 33577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14143]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office


National Telecommunications and Information Administration; 
Copyright Policy, Creativity, and Innovation in the Information Economy

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Department of 
Commerce; and National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), on 
behalf of the U.S. Department of Commerce (Department), will hold a 
public meeting on July 1, 2010, to discuss the relationship of 
copyright policy, creativity, and innovation in the Internet economy.

DATES: The meeting will be held on July 1, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 
p.m., Eastern Daylight Time. Registration will begin at 8 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Polaris Room of the Ronald 
Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20004. All major entrances to the building 
are accessible to people with disabilities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding the 
meeting, contact Velica Steadman at [email protected], (571) 
272-9300; or Ian Martinez at [email protected], (202) 482-3027.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Recognizing the vital importance of both 
intellectual property and the Internet to U.S. creativity and 
innovation, the Department has made it a top priority to ensure that 
both remain vehicles for these important purposes. The Department has 
assembled an Internet Policy Task Force (Task Force) whose mission is 
to identify leading public policy and operational challenges in the 
Internet environment, including challenges associated with protecting 
the legal rights of inventors and creators. The Task Force leverages 
expertise across many bureaus, including those responsible for domestic 
and international information and communications technology policy, 
international trade, cybersecurity standards and best practices, 
intellectual property rights, business advocacy and export control.
    As part of the Task Force agenda, USPTO and NTIA are conducting a 
comprehensive review of the relationship of copyright policy, 
creativity, and innovation in the Internet economy which will include 
issuing a notice of inquiry. To facilitate this review, on July 1, 
2010, USPTO and NTIA will hold a public meeting to discuss stakeholder 
views and to encourage public discussion of online copyright policy in 
the United States. The event will seek participation and comment from 
all interested stakeholders, including the commercial, rightsholder, 
academic, and civil society sectors, on the impact of current copyright 
laws, the common and emerging techniques used to illegally distribute 
and obtain protected works, and the extent of infringement and effects 
on creativity and innovation in relevant technologies. The agencies 
will explore the changing nature of infringement and whether those 
changes suggest gaps in copyright law. Similarly, the agencies invite 
discussion of the changing impact of copyright law on individual 
rights. The review will also seek to develop a deeper understanding of 
the relationship of current copyright laws to consumer welfare, job 
creation, international trade, and fundamental democratic values. The 
review is being coordinated with the office of the Intellectual 
Property Enforcement Coordinator in the Office of Management and 
Budget, Executive Office of the President.
    The agenda for the public meeting will be available at least one 
week prior to the meeting and the meeting will be webcast. The agenda 
and webcast information will be available on the Internet Policy Task 
Force Web site, http://www.ntia.doc.gov/internetpolicytaskforce/ and 
the USPTO's Web site, http://www.uspto.gov. David J. Kappos, Under 
Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the 
United States Patent and Trademark Office, will deliver remarks, as 
will Lawrence E. Strickling, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for 
Communications and Information and Administrator of the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration. Other U.S. 
Government officials will also participate.
    The meeting will be open to members of the public on a first-come, 
first-served basis. To pre-register for the meeting, please send a 
request to Velica Steadman at [email protected], indicating 
your name, organizational affiliation, mailing address, telephone, and 
email address. The meeting will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Individuals requiring accomodation, such as sign language 
interpretation or other ancillary aids, should communicate their needs 
to Velica Steadman at [email protected], or Ian Martinez at 
[email protected] at least five(5) days prior to the meeting. 
Attendees should arrive at least one-half hour prior to the start of 
the meeting and must present a valid, government-issued photo 
identification upon arrival. Persons who have pre-registered (and 
received confirmation) will have seating held until 15 minutes before 
the program begins. Members of the public will have an opportunity to 
ask questions at the meeting.

    Dated: June 8, 2010.
David J. Kappos,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Lawrence E. Strickling,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.
[FR Doc. 2010-14143 Filed 6-11-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P