infoJustice

U.S. Register of Copyrights Maria Pallante has published a report outlining the “Priorities and Special Projects of the U.S. Copyright Office” for the next two years.

According to the copyright office press release: “Rogue websites, illegal streaming, small claims, orphan works and library preservation are among the issues the Copyright Office will focus on through research and legislative support for Congress. The document also summarizes the work of the office in global policy, including U.S. trade negotiations, anti-piracy efforts and international discussions of exceptions and limitations.  The administrative practice of the Copyright Office will be particularly active during the next two years. The office has launched the fifth triennial rulemaking involving the anti-circumvention provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and will spend significant time considering and resolving regulatory issues affecting the copyrightability and registration of websites and other forms of digital authorship.”

The U.S. Copyright Office Press Release is here.

The full report is here.

Comments on the paper may be sent to registerofcopyrights@copyright.gov.

OUTLINE OF PRIORITIES AND SPECIAL PROJECTS:

Studies

• Small claims solutions for copyright owners
• Legal treatment of pre-1972 sound recordings
• Mass book digitization

Legislative Issues

• Rogue websites
• Illegal streaming
• Public performance right in sound recording
• Orphan works
• Copyright exceptions for libraries
• Market-based licensing for cable and satellite transmissions

Trade and foreign relations

• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
• Trans-Pacific Partnership and other trade priorities

Priorities in administrative law practice

• Prohibition on circumvention of measures controlling access to copyrighted works
• Electronic system for the designation of agents under the DMCA
• Review of group registration options
• Registration options for websites and other forms of digital authorship
• Electronic administration of the statutory licenses
• Recording notices of termination of copyright transfers

Special Projects

• Study of fees and services
• Revision of the compendium of copyright office practices
• Technical upgrades to electronic registration
• Dialogues and roundtables with copyright community
• Research partnerships with academic community
• Revision of copyright office website
• Public outreach and copyright education
• Business process reengineering of recordation division
• Public access to historical records
• Skills training for copyright office staff