DMCA Full Text
NOTE: The DMCA is a very long statute. I have highlited in red the portions that are most relevant to website and auction takedowns.
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act 1998. DMCA
The contents of the act are as follows:
An Act
To amend title 17, United States Code, to implement the World
Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty and Performances and
Phonograms Treaty, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Digital Millennium Copyright Act'.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I--WIPO TREATIES IMPLEMENTATION
Sec. 102. Technical amendments.
Sec. 103. Copyright protection systems and copyright management
information.
Sec. 104. Evaluation of impact of copyright law and amendments on electronic
commerce and technological development.
Sec. 105. Effective date.
TITLE II--ONLINE COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT LIABILITY LIMITATION
Sec. 202. Limitations on liability for copyright infringement.
Sec. 203. Effective date.
TITLE III--COMPUTER MAINTENANCE OR REPAIR COPYRIGHT EXEMPTION
Sec. 302. Limitations on exclusive rights; computer programs.
TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sec. 401. Provisions Relating to the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
and the Register of Copyrights.
Sec. 402. Ephemeral recordings.
Sec. 403. Limitations on exclusive rights; distance education.
Sec. 404. Exemption for libraries and archives.
Sec. 405. Scope of exclusive rights in sound recordings; ephemeral
recordings.
Sec. 406. Assumption of contractual obligations related to transfers of
rights in motion pictures.
Sec. 407. Effective date.
TITLE V--PROTECTION OF CERTAIN ORIGINAL DESIGNS
Sec. 502. Protection of certain original designs.
Sec. 503. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 504. Joint study of the effect of this title.
Sec. 505. Effective date.
TITLE I--WIPO TREATIES IMPLEMENTATION
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the `WIPO Copyright and Performances and
Phonograms Treaties Implementation Act of 1998'.
SEC. 102. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
(a) DEFINITIONS- Section 101 of title 17, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking the definition of `Berne Convention work';
(2) in the definition of `The `country of origin' of a Berne Convention
work--
(A) by striking `The `country of origin' of a Berne Convention work, for
purposes of section 411, is the United States if' and inserting `For purposes of
section 411, a work is a `United States work' only if;
(i) in subparagraph (B) by striking `nation or nations adhering to the Berne
Convention' and inserting `treaty party or parties';
(ii) in subparagraph (C) by striking `does not adhere to the Berne
Convention' and inserting `is not a treaty party'; and
(iii) in subparagraph (D) by striking `does not adhere to the Berne
Convention' and inserting `is not a treaty party'; and
(C) in the matter following paragraph (3) by striking `For the purposes of
section 411, the `country of origin' of any other Berne Convention work is not
the United States.;
(3) by inserting after the definition of `fixed' the following:
The `Geneva Phonograms Convention' is the Convention for the Protection of
Producers of Phonograms Against Unauthorized Duplication of Their Phonograms,
concluded at Geneva, Switzerland, on October 29, 1971.;
(4) by inserting after the definition of `including' the
following:
An `international agreement' is--
(1) the Universal Copyright Convention;
(2) the Geneva Phonograms Convention;
(3) the Berne Convention;
(5) the WIPO Copyright Treaty;
(6) the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty; and
(7) any other copyright treaty to which the United States is a
party.';
(5) by inserting after the definition of `transmit' the following:
A `treaty party' is a country or intergovernmental organization other than
the United States that is a party to an international agreement.;
(6) by inserting after the definition of `widow' the following:
The `WIPO Copyright Treaty' is the WIPO Copyright Treaty concluded at
Geneva, Switzerland, on December 20, 1996.;
(7) by inserting after the definition of `The `WIPO Copyright Treaty' the
following:
The `WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty' is the WIPO Performances and
Phonograms Treaty concluded at Geneva, Switzerland, on December 20, 1996.;
and
(8) by inserting after the definition of `work made for hire' the
following:
The terms `WTO Agreement' and `WTO member country' have the meanings given
those terms in paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively, of section 2 of the
Uruguay Round Agreements Act..
(b) SUBJECT MATTER OF COPYRIGHT; NATIONAL ORIGIN- Section 104 of title 17,
United States Code, is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1) by striking `foreign nation that is a party to a
copyright treaty to which the United States is also a party' and inserting
`treaty party';
(B) in paragraph (2) by striking `party to the Universal Copyright
Convention' and inserting `treaty party';
(C) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6);
(D) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (5) and inserting it after
paragraph (4);
(E) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
(3) the work is a sound recording that was first fixed in a treaty party;
or';
(F) in paragraph (4) by striking `Berne Convention work' and inserting
`pictorial, graphic, or sculptural work that is incorporated in a building or
other structure, or an architectural work that is embodied in a building and the
building or structure is located in the United States or a treaty party';
and
(G) by inserting after paragraph (6), as so redesignated, the
following:
For purposes of paragraph (2), a work that is published in the United
States or a treaty party within 30 days after publication in a foreign nation
that is not a treaty party shall be considered to be first published in the
United States or such treaty party, as the case may be.; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(d) EFFECT OF PHONOGRAMS TREATIES- Notwithstanding the provisions of
subsection (b), no works other than sound recordings shall be eligible for
protection under this title solely by virtue of the adherence of the United
States to the Geneva Phonograms Convention or the WIPO Performances and
Phonograms Treaty..
(c) COPYRIGHT IN RESTORED WORKS- Section 104A(h) of title 17, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting
the following:
(A) a nation adhering to the Berne Convention;
(B) a WTO member country;
(C) a nation adhering to the WIPO Copyright Treaty;
(D) a nation adhering to the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty;
or
(E) subject to a Presidential proclamation under subsection
(g).;
(2) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
(3) The term `eligible country' means a nation, other than the United
States, that--
(A) becomes a WTO member country after the date of the enactment of the
Uruguay Round Agreements Act;
(B) on such date of enactment is, or after such date of enactment becomes,
a nation adhering to the Berne Convention;
(C) adheres to the WIPO Copyright Treaty;
(D) adheres to the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty;
or
(E) after such date of enactment becomes subject to a proclamation under
subsection (g).;
(A) in subparagraph (C)(iii) by striking `and' after the
semicolon;
(B) at the end of subparagraph (D) by striking the period and inserting `;
and'; and
(C) by adding after subparagraph (D) the following:
(E) if the source country for the work is an eligible country solely by
virtue of its adherence to the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, is a
sound recording.;
(4) in paragraph (8)(B)(i)--
(A) by inserting `of which' before `the majority'; and
(B) by striking `of eligible countries'; and
(5) by striking paragraph (9).
(d) REGISTRATION AND INFRINGEMENT ACTIONS- Section 411(a) of title 17,
United States Code, is amended in the first sentence--
(1) by striking `actions for infringement of copyright in Berne Convention
works whose country of origin is not the United States and'; and
(2) by inserting `United States' after `no action for infringement of the
copyright in any'.
(e) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS- Section 507(a) of title 17, United State Code,
is amended by striking `No' and inserting `Except as expressly provided
otherwise in this title, no.
SEC. 103. COPYRIGHT PROTECTION SYSTEMS AND COPYRIGHT MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION.
(a) IN GENERAL- Title 17, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 12--COPYRIGHT PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Sec.
1201. Circumvention of copyright protection systems.
1202. Integrity of copyright management information.
1204. Criminal offenses and penalties.
Sec. 1201. Circumvention of copyright protection systems
(a) VIOLATIONS REGARDING CIRCUMVENTION OF TECHNOLOGICAL MEASURES- (1)(A) No
person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access
to a work protected under this title. The prohibition contained in the preceding
sentence shall take effect at the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date
of the enactment of this chapter.
(B) The prohibition contained in subparagraph (A) shall not apply to
persons who are users of a copyrighted work which is in a particular class of
works, if such persons are, or are likely to be in the succeeding 3-year period,
adversely affected by virtue of such prohibition in their ability to make
noninfringing uses of that particular class of works under this title, as
determined under subparagraph (C).
(C) During the 2-year period described in subparagraph (A), and during each
succeeding 3-year period, the Librarian of Congress, upon the recommendation of
the Register of Copyrights, who shall consult with the Assistant Secretary for
Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce and report and
comment on his or her views in making such recommendation, shall make the
determination in a rulemaking proceeding on the record for purposes of
subparagraph (B) of whether persons who are users of a copyrighted work are, or
are likely to be in the succeeding 3-year period, adversely affected by the
prohibition under subparagraph (A) in their ability to make noninfringing uses
under this title of a particular class of copyrighted works. In conducting such
rulemaking, the Librarian shall examine--
(i) the availability for use of copyrighted works;
(ii) the availability for use of works for nonprofit archival,
preservation, and educational purposes;
(iii) the impact that the prohibition on the circumvention of technological
measures applied to copyrighted works has on criticism, comment, news reporting,
teaching, scholarship, or research;
(iv) the effect of circumvention of technological measures on the market
for or value of copyrighted works; and
(v) such other factors as the Librarian considers appropriate.
(D) The Librarian shall publish any class of copyrighted works for which
the Librarian has determined, pursuant to the rulemaking conducted under
subparagraph (C), that noninfringing uses by persons who are users of a
copyrighted work are, or are likely to be, adversely affected, and the
prohibition contained in subparagraph (A) shall not apply to such users with
respect to such class of works for the ensuing 3-year period.
(E) Neither the exception under subparagraph (B) from the applicability of
the prohibition contained in subparagraph (A), nor any determination made in a
rulemaking conducted under subparagraph (C), may be used as a defense in any
action to enforce any provision of this title other than this paragraph.
(2) No person shall manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide, or
otherwise traffic in any technology, product, service, device, component, or
part thereof, that--
(A) is primarily designed or produced for the purpose of circumventing a
technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under
this title;
(B) has only limited commercially significant purpose or use other than to
circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work
protected under this title; or
(C) is marketed by that person or another acting in concert with that
person with that person's knowledge for use in circumventing a technological
measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this
title.
(3) As used in this subsection--
(A) to `circumvent a technological measure' means to descramble a scrambled
work, to decrypt an encrypted work, or otherwise to avoid, bypass, remove,
deactivate, or impair a technological measure, without the authority of the
copyright owner; and
(B) a technological measure `effectively controls access to a work' if the
measure, in the ordinary course of its operation, requires the application of
information, or a process or a treatment, with the authority of the copyright
owner, to gain access to the work.
(b) ADDITIONAL VIOLATIONS- (1) No person shall manufacture, import, offer
to the public, provide, or otherwise traffic in any technology, product,
service, device, component, or part thereof, that--
(A) is primarily designed or produced for the purpose of circumventing
protection afforded by a technological measure that effectively protects a right
of a copyright owner under this title in a work or a portion thereof;
(B) has only limited commercially significant purpose or use other than to
circumvent protection afforded by a technological measure that effectively
protects a right of a copyright owner under this title in a work or a portion
thereof; or
(C) is marketed by that person or another acting in concert with that
person with that person's knowledge for use in circumventing protection afforded
by a technological measure that effectively protects a right of a copyright
owner under this title in a work or a portion thereof.
(2) As used in this subsection--
(A) to `circumvent protection afforded by a technological measure' means
avoiding, bypassing, removing, deactivating, or otherwise impairing a
technological measure; and
(B) a technological measure `effectively protects a right of a copyright
owner under this title' if the measure, in the ordinary course of its operation,
prevents, restricts, or otherwise limits the exercise of a right of a copyright
owner under this title.
(c) OTHER RIGHTS, ETC., NOT AFFECTED- (1) Nothing in this section shall
affect rights, remedies, limitations, or defenses to copyright infringement,
including fair use, under this title.
(2) Nothing in this section shall enlarge or diminish vicarious or
contributory liability for copyright infringement in connection with any
technology, product, service, device, component, or part thereof.
(3) Nothing in this section shall require that the design of, or design and
selection of parts and components for, a consumer electronics,
telecommunications, or computing product provide for a response to any
particular technological measure, so long as such part or component, or the
product in which such part or component is integrated, does not otherwise fall
within the prohibitions of subsection (a)(2) or (b)(1).
(4) Nothing in this section shall enlarge or diminish any rights of free
speech or the press for activities using consumer electronics,
telecommunications, or computing products.
(d) EXEMPTION FOR NONPROFIT LIBRARIES, ARCHIVES, AND EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS- (1) A nonprofit library, archives, or educational institution
which gains access to a commercially exploited copyrighted work solely in order
to make a good faith determination of whether to acquire a copy of that work for
the sole purpose of engaging in conduct permitted under this title shall not be
in violation of subsection (a)(1)(A). A copy of a work to which access has been
gained under this paragraph--
(A) may not be retained longer than necessary to make such good faith
determination; and
(B) may not be used for any other purpose.
(2) The exemption made available under paragraph (1) shall only apply with
respect to a work when an identical copy of that work is not reasonably
available in another form.
(3) A nonprofit library, archives, or educational institution that
willfully for the purpose of commercial advantage or financial gain violates
paragraph (1)--
(A) shall, for the first offense, be subject to the civil remedies under
section 1203; and
(B) shall, for repeated or subsequent offenses, in addition to the civil
remedies under section 1203, forfeit the exemption provided under paragraph
(1).
(4) This subsection may not be used as a defense to a claim under
subsection (a)(2) or (b), nor may this subsection permit a nonprofit library,
archives, or educational institution to manufacture, import, offer to the
public, provide, or otherwise traffic in any technology, product, service,
component, or part thereof, which circumvents a technological measure.
(5) In order for a library or archives to qualify for the exemption under
this subsection, the collections of that library or archives shall be--
(A) open to the public; or
(B) available not only to researchers affiliated with the library or
archives or with the institution of which it is a part, but also to other
persons doing research in a specialized field.
(e) LAW ENFORCEMENT, INTELLIGENCE, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES- This
section does not prohibit any lawfully authorized investigative, protective,
information security, or intelligence activity of an officer, agent, or employee
of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State, or a
person acting pursuant to a contract with the United States, a State, or a
political subdivision of a State. For purposes of this subsection, the term
`information security' means activities carried out in order to identify and
address the vulnerabilities of a government computer, computer system, or
computer network.
(f) REVERSE ENGINEERING- (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection
(a)(1)(A), a person who has lawfully obtained the right to use a copy of a
computer program may circumvent a technological measure that effectively
controls access to a particular portion of that program for the sole purpose of
identifying and analyzing those elements of the program that are necessary to
achieve interoperability of an independently created computer program with other
programs, and that have not previously been readily available to the person
engaging in the circumvention, to the extent any such acts of identification and
analysis do not constitute infringement under this title.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a)(2) and (b), a person
may develop and employ technological means to circumvent a technological
measure, or to circumvent protection afforded by a technological measure, in
order to enable the identification and analysis under paragraph (1), or for the
purpose of enabling interoperability of an independently created computer
program with other programs, if such means are necessary to achieve such
interoperability, to the extent that doing so does not constitute infringement
under this title.
(3) The information acquired through the acts permitted under paragraph
(1), and the means permitted under paragraph (2), may be made available to
others if the person referred to in paragraph (1) or (2), as the case may be,
provides such information or means solely for the purpose of enabling
interoperability of an independently created computer program with other
programs, and to the extent that doing so does not constitute infringement under
this title or violate applicable law other than this section.
(4) For purposes of this subsection, the term `interoperability' means the
ability of computer programs to exchange information, and of such programs
mutually to use the information which has been exchanged.
(1) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this subsection--
(A) the term `encryption research' means activities necessary to identify
and analyze flaws and vulnerabilities of encryption technologies applied to
copyrighted works, if these activities are conducted to advance the state of
knowledge in the field of encryption technology or to assist in the development
of encryption products; and
(B) the term `encryption technology' means the scrambling and descrambling
of information using mathematical formulas or algorithms.
(2) PERMISSIBLE ACTS OF ENCRYPTION RESEARCH- Notwithstanding the provisions
of subsection (a)(1)(A), it is not a violation of that subsection for a person
to circumvent a technological measure as applied to a copy, phonorecord,
performance, or display of a published work in the course of an act of good
faith encryption research if--
(A) the person lawfully obtained the encrypted copy, phonorecord,
performance, or display of the published work;
(B) such act is necessary to conduct such encryption
research;
(C) the person made a good faith effort to obtain authorization before the
circumvention; and
(D) such act does not constitute infringement under this title or a
violation of applicable law other than this section, including section 1030 of
title 18 and those provisions of title 18 amended by the Computer Fraud and
Abuse Act of 1986.
(3) FACTORS IN DETERMINING EXEMPTION- In determining whether a person
qualifies for the exemption under paragraph (2), the factors to be considered
shall include--
(A) whether the information derived from the encryption research was
disseminated, and if so, whether it was disseminated in a manner reasonably
calculated to advance the state of knowledge or development of encryption
technology, versus whether it was disseminated in a manner that facilitates
infringement under this title or a violation of applicable law other than this
section, including a violation of privacy or breach of security;
(B) whether the person is engaged in a legitimate course of study, is
employed, or is appropriately trained or experienced, in the field of encryption
technology; and
(C) whether the person provides the copyright owner of the work to which
the technological measure is applied with notice of the findings and
documentation of the research, and the time when such notice is
provided.
(4) USE OF TECHNOLOGICAL MEANS FOR RESEARCH ACTIVITIES- Notwithstanding the
provisions of subsection (a)(2), it is not a violation of that subsection for a
person to--
(A) develop and employ technological means to circumvent a technological
measure for the sole purpose of that person performing the acts of good faith
encryption research described in paragraph (2); and
(B) provide the technological means to another person with whom he or she
is working collaboratively for the purpose of conducting the acts of good faith
encryption research described in paragraph (2) or for the purpose of having that
other person verify his or her acts of good faith encryption research described
in paragraph (2).
(5) REPORT TO CONGRESS- Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this chapter, the Register of Copyrights and the Assistant
Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce shall
jointly report to the Congress on the effect this subsection has had
on--
(A) encryption research and the development of encryption
technology;
(B) the adequacy and effectiveness of technological measures designed to
protect copyrighted works; and
(C) protection of copyright owners against the unauthorized access to their
encrypted copyrighted works.
The report shall include legislative recommendations, if any.
(h) EXCEPTIONS REGARDING MINORS- In applying subsection (a) to a component
or part, the court may consider the necessity for its intended and actual
incorporation in a technology, product, service, or device, which--
(1) does not itself violate the provisions of this title; and
(2) has the sole purpose to prevent the access of minors to material on the
Internet.
(i) PROTECTION OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION-
(1) CIRCUMVENTION PERMITTED- Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection
(a)(1)(A), it is not a violation of that subsection for a person to circumvent a
technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under
this title, if--
(A) the technological measure, or the work it protects, contains the
capability of collecting or disseminating personally identifying information
reflecting the online activities of a natural person who seeks to gain access to
the work protected;
(B) in the normal course of its operation, the technological measure, or
the work it protects, collects or disseminates personally identifying
information about the person who seeks to gain access to the work protected,
without providing conspicuous notice of such collection or dissemination to such
person, and without providing such person with the capability to prevent or
restrict such collection or dissemination;
(C) the act of circumvention has the sole effect of identifying and
disabling the capability described in subparagraph (A), and has no other effect
on the ability of any person to gain access to any work; and
(D) the act of circumvention is carried out solely for the purpose of
preventing the collection or dissemination of personally identifying information
about a natural person who seeks to gain access to the work protected, and is
not in violation of any other law.
(2) INAPPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN TECHNOLOGICAL MEASURES- This subsection does
not apply to a technological measure, or a work it protects, that does not
collect or disseminate personally identifying information and that is disclosed
to a user as not having or using such capability.
(1) DEFINITION- For purposes of this subsection, the term `security
testing' means accessing a computer, computer system, or computer network,
solely for the purpose of good faith testing, investigating, or correcting, a
security flaw or vulnerability, with the authorization of the owner or operator
of such computer, computer system, or computer network.
(2) PERMISSIBLE ACTS OF SECURITY TESTING- Notwithstanding the provisions of
subsection (a)(1)(A), it is not a violation of that subsection for a person to
engage in an act of security testing, if such act does not constitute
infringement under this title or a violation of applicable law other than this
section, including section 1030 of title 18 and those provisions of title 18
amended by the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986.
(3) FACTORS IN DETERMINING EXEMPTION- In determining whether a person
qualifies for the exemption under paragraph (2), the factors to be considered
shall include--
(A) whether the information derived from the security testing was used
solely to promote the security of the owner or operator of such computer,
computer system or computer network, or shared directly with the developer of
such computer, computer system, or computer network; and
(B) whether the information derived from the security testing was used or
maintained in a manner that does not facilitate infringement under this title or
a violation of applicable law other than this section, including a violation of
privacy or breach of security.
(4) USE OF TECHNOLOGICAL MEANS FOR SECURITY TESTING- Notwithstanding the
provisions of subsection (a)(2), it is not a violation of that subsection for a
person to develop, produce, distribute or employ technological means for the
sole purpose of performing the acts of security testing described in subsection
(2), provided such technological means does not otherwise violate section
(a)(2).
(k) CERTAIN ANALOG DEVICES AND CERTAIN TECHNOLOGICAL MEASURES-
(1) CERTAIN ANALOG DEVICES-
(A) Effective 18 months after the date of the enactment of this chapter, no
person shall manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide or otherwise
traffic in any--
(i) VHS format analog video cassette recorder unless such recorder conforms
to the automatic gain control copy control technology;
(ii) 8mm format analog video cassette camcorder unless such camcorder
conforms to the automatic gain control technology;
(iii) Beta format analog video cassette recorder, unless such recorder
conforms to the automatic gain control copy control technology, except that this
requirement shall not apply until there are 1,000 Beta format analog video
cassette recorders sold in the United States in any one calendar year after the
date of the enactment of this chapter;
(iv) 8mm format analog video cassette recorder that is not an analog video
cassette camcorder, unless such recorder conforms to the automatic gain control
copy control technology, except that this requirement shall not apply until
there are 20,000 such recorders sold in the United States in any one calendar
year after the date of the enactment of this chapter; or
(v) analog video cassette recorder that records using an NTSC format video
input and that is not otherwise covered under clauses (i) through (iv), unless
such device conforms to the automatic gain control copy control
technology.
(B) Effective on the date of the enactment of this chapter, no person shall
manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide or otherwise traffic
in--
(i) any VHS format analog video cassette recorder or any 8mm format analog
video cassette recorder if the design of the model of such recorder has been
modified after such date of enactment so that a model of recorder that
previously conformed to the automatic gain control copy control technology no
longer conforms to such technology; or
(ii) any VHS format analog video cassette recorder, or any 8mm format
analog video cassette recorder that is not an 8mm analog video cassette
camcorder, if the design of the model of such recorder has been modified after
such date of enactment so that a model of recorder that previously conformed to
the four-line colorstripe copy control technology no longer conforms to such
technology.
Manufacturers that have not previously manufactured or sold a VHS format
analog video cassette recorder, or an 8mm format analog cassette recorder, shall
be required to conform to the four-line colorstripe copy control technology in
the initial model of any such recorder manufactured after the date of the
enactment of this chapter, and thereafter to continue conforming to the
four-line colorstripe copy control technology. For purposes of this
subparagraph, an analog video cassette recorder `conforms to' the four-line
colorstripe copy control technology if it records a signal that, when played
back by the playback function of that recorder in the normal viewing mode,
exhibits, on a reference display device, a display containing distracting
visible lines through portions of the viewable picture.
(2) CERTAIN ENCODING RESTRICTIONS- No person shall apply the automatic gain
control copy control technology or colorstripe copy control technology to
prevent or limit consumer copying except such copying--
(A) of a single transmission, or specified group of transmissions, of live
events or of audiovisual works for which a member of the public has exercised
choice in selecting the transmissions, including the content of the
transmissions or the time of receipt of such transmissions, or both, and as to
which such member is charged a separate fee for each such transmission or
specified group of transmissions;
(B) from a copy of a transmission of a live event or an audiovisual work if
such transmission is provided by a channel or service where payment is made by a
member of the public for such channel or service in the form of a subscription
fee that entitles the member of the public to receive all of the programming
contained in such channel or service;
(C) from a physical medium containing one or more prerecorded audiovisual
works; or
(D) from a copy of a transmission described in subparagraph (A) or from a
copy made from a physical medium described in subparagraph (C).
In the event that a transmission meets both the conditions set forth in
subparagraph (A) and those set forth in subparagraph (B), the transmission shall
be treated as a transmission described in subparagraph (A).
(3) INAPPLICABILITY- This subsection shall not--
(A) require any analog video cassette camcorder to conform to the automatic
gain control copy control technology with respect to any video signal received
through a camera lens;
(B) apply to the manufacture, importation, offer for sale, provision of, or
other trafficking in, any professional analog video cassette recorder;
or
(C) apply to the offer for sale or provision of, or other trafficking in,
any previously owned analog video cassette recorder, if such recorder was
legally manufactured and sold when new and not subsequently modified in
violation of paragraph (1)(B).
(4) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this subsection:
(A) An `analog video cassette recorder' means a device that records, or a
device that includes a function that records, on electromagnetic tape in an
analog format the electronic impulses produced by the video and audio portions
of a television program, motion picture, or other form of audiovisual
work.
(B) An `analog video cassette camcorder' means an analog video cassette
recorder that contains a recording function that operates through a camera lens
and through a video input that may be connected with a television or other video
playback device.
(C) An analog video cassette recorder `conforms' to the automatic gain
control copy control technology if it--
(i) detects one or more of the elements of such technology and does not
record the motion picture or transmission protected by such technology;
or
(ii) records a signal that, when played back, exhibits a meaningfully
distorted or degraded display.
(D) The term `professional analog video cassette recorder' means an analog
video cassette recorder that is designed, manufactured, marketed, and intended
for use by a person who regularly employs such a device for a lawful business or
industrial use, including making, performing, displaying, distributing, or
transmitting copies of motion pictures on a commercial scale.
(E) The terms `VHS format', `8mm format', `Beta format', `automatic gain
control copy control technology', `colorstripe copy control technology',
`four-line version of the colorstripe copy control technology', and `NTSC' have
the meanings that are commonly understood in the consumer electronics and motion
picture industries as of the date of the enactment of this
chapter.
(5) VIOLATIONS- Any violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be
treated as a violation of subsection (b)(1) of this section. Any violation of
paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be deemed an `act of circumvention' for
the purposes of section 1203(c)(3)(A) of this chapter.
Sec. 1202. Integrity of copyright management information
(a) FALSE COPYRIGHT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION- No person shall knowingly and
with the intent to induce, enable, facilitate, or conceal infringement--
(1) provide copyright management information that is false, or
(2) distribute or import for distribution copyright management information
that is false.
(b) REMOVAL OR ALTERATION OF COPYRIGHT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION- No person
shall, without the authority of the copyright owner or the law--
(1) intentionally remove or alter any copyright management
information,
(2) distribute or import for distribution copyright management information
knowing that the copyright management information has been removed or altered
without authority of the copyright owner or the law, or
(3) distribute, import for distribution, or publicly perform works, copies
of works, or phonorecords, knowing that copyright management information has
been removed or altered without authority of the copyright owner or the
law,
knowing, or, with respect to civil remedies under section 1203, having
reasonable grounds to know, that it will induce, enable, facilitate, or conceal
an infringement of any right under this title.
(c) DEFINITION- As used in this section, the term `copyright management
information' means any of the following information conveyed in connection with
copies or phonorecords of a work or performances or displays of a work,
including in digital form, except that such term does not include any personally
identifying information about a user of a work or of a copy, phonorecord,
performance, or display of a work:
(1) The title and other information identifying the work, including the
information set forth on a notice of copyright.
(2) The name of, and other identifying information about, the author of a
work.
(3) The name of, and other identifying information about, the copyright
owner of the work, including the information set forth in a notice of
copyright.
(4) With the exception of public performances of works by radio and
television broadcast stations, the name of, and other identifying information
about, a performer whose performance is fixed in a work other than an
audiovisual work.
(5) With the exception of public performances of works by radio and
television broadcast stations, in the case of an audiovisual work, the name of,
and other identifying information about, a writer, performer, or director who is
credited in the audiovisual work.
(6) Terms and conditions for use of the work.
(7) Identifying numbers or symbols referring to such information or links
to such information.
(8) Such other information as the Register of Copyrights may prescribe by
regulation, except that the Register of Copyrights may not require the provision
of any information concerning the user of a copyrighted work.
(d) LAW ENFORCEMENT, INTELLIGENCE, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES- This
section does not prohibit any lawfully authorized investigative, protective,
information security, or intelligence activity of an officer, agent, or employee
of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State, or a
person acting pursuant to a contract with the United States, a State, or a
political subdivision of a State. For purposes of this subsection, the term
`information security' means activities carried out in order to identify and
address the vulnerabilities of a government computer, computer system, or
computer network.
(e) LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY-
(1) ANALOG TRANSMISSIONS- In the case of an analog transmission, a person
who is making transmissions in its capacity as a broadcast station, or as a
cable system, or someone who provides programming to such station or system,
shall not be liable for a violation of subsection (b) if--
(A) avoiding the activity that constitutes such violation is not
technically feasible or would create an undue financial hardship on such person;
and
(B) such person did not intend, by engaging in such activity, to induce,
enable, facilitate, or conceal infringement of a right under this
title.
(2) DIGITAL TRANSMISSIONS-
(A) If a digital transmission standard for the placement of copyright
management information for a category of works is set in a voluntary, consensus
standard-setting process involving a representative cross-section of broadcast
stations or cable systems and copyright owners of a category of works that are
intended for public performance by such stations or systems, a person identified
in paragraph (1) shall not be liable for a violation of subsection (b) with
respect to the particular copyright management information addressed by such
standard if--
(i) the placement of such information by someone other than such person is
not in accordance with such standard; and
(ii) the activity that constitutes such violation is not intended to
induce, enable, facilitate, or conceal infringement of a right under this
title.
(B) Until a digital transmission standard has been set pursuant to
subparagraph (A) with respect to the placement of copyright management
information for a category or works, a person identified in paragraph (1) shall
not be liable for a violation of subsection (b) with respect to such copyright
management information, if the activity that constitutes such violation is not
intended to induce, enable, facilitate, or conceal infringement of a right under
this title, and if--
(i) the transmission of such information by such person would result in a
perceptible visual or aural degradation of the digital signal;
or
(ii) the transmission of such information by such person would conflict
with--
(I) an applicable government regulation relating to transmission of
information in a digital signal;
(II) an applicable industry-wide standard relating to the transmission of
information in a digital signal that was adopted by a voluntary consensus
standards body prior to the effective date of this chapter;
or
(III) an applicable industry-wide standard relating to the transmission of
information in a digital signal that was adopted in a voluntary, consensus
standards-setting process open to participation by a representative
cross-section of broadcast stations or cable systems and copyright owners of a
category of works that are intended for public performance by such stations or
systems.
(3) DEFINITIONS- As used in this subsection--
(A) the term `broadcast station' has the meaning given that term in section
3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153); and
(B) the term `cable system' has the meaning given that term in section 602
of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 522).
Sec. 1203. Civil remedies
(a) CIVIL ACTIONS- Any person injured by a violation of section 1201 or
1202 may bring a civil action in an appropriate United States district court for
such violation.
(b) POWERS OF THE COURT- In an action brought under subsection (a), the
court--
(1) may grant temporary and permanent injunctions on such terms as it deems
reasonable to prevent or restrain a violation, but in no event shall impose a
prior restraint on free speech or the press protected under the 1st amendment to
the Constitution;
(2) at any time while an action is pending, may order the impounding, on
such terms as it deems reasonable, of any device or product that is in the
custody or control of the alleged violator and that the court has reasonable
cause to believe was involved in a violation;
(3) may award damages under subsection (c);
(4) in its discretion may allow the recovery of costs by or against any
party other than the United States or an officer thereof;
(5) in its discretion may award reasonable attorney's fees to the
prevailing party; and
(6) may, as part of a final judgment or decree finding a violation, order
the remedial modification or the destruction of any device or product involved
in the violation that is in the custody or control of the violator or has been
impounded under paragraph (2).
(1) IN GENERAL- Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person
committing a violation of section 1201 or 1202 is liable for either--
(A) the actual damages and any additional profits of the violator, as
provided in paragraph (2), or
(B) statutory damages, as provided in paragraph (3).
(2) ACTUAL DAMAGES- The court shall award to the complaining party the
actual damages suffered by the party as a result of the violation, and any
profits of the violator that are attributable to the violation and are not taken
into account in computing the actual damages, if the complaining party elects
such damages at any time before final judgment is entered.
(3) STATUTORY DAMAGES- (A) At any time before final judgment is entered, a
complaining party may elect to recover an award of statutory damages for each
violation of section 1201 in the sum of not less than $200 or more than $2,500
per act of circumvention, device, product, component, offer, or performance of
service, as the court considers just.
(B) At any time before final judgment is entered, a complaining party may
elect to recover an award of statutory damages for each violation of section
1202 in the sum of not less than $2,500 or more than $25,000.
(4) REPEATED VIOLATIONS- In any case in which the injured party sustains
the burden of proving, and the court finds, that a person has violated section
1201 or 1202 within 3 years after a final judgment was entered against the
person for another such violation, the court may increase the award of damages
up to triple the amount that would otherwise be awarded, as the court considers
just.
(A) IN GENERAL- The court in its discretion may reduce or remit the total
award of damages in any case in which the violator sustains the burden of
proving, and the court finds, that the violator was not aware and had no reason
to believe that its acts constituted a violation.
(B) NONPROFIT LIBRARY, ARCHIVES, OR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS- In the case
of a nonprofit library, archives, or educational institution, the court shall
remit damages in any case in which the library, archives, or educational
institution sustains the burden of proving, and the court finds, that the
library, archives, or educational institution was not aware and had no reason to
believe that its acts constituted a violation.
Sec. 1204. Criminal offenses and penalties
(a) IN GENERAL- Any person who violates section 1201 or 1202 willfully and
for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain--
(1) shall be fined not more than $500,000 or imprisoned for not more than 5
years, or both, for the first offense; and
(2) shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned for not more than
10 years, or both, for any subsequent offense.
(b) LIMITATION FOR NONPROFIT LIBRARY, ARCHIVES, OR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION-
Subsection (a) shall not apply to a nonprofit library, archives, or educational
institution.
(c) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS- No criminal proceeding shall be brought under
this section unless such proceeding is commenced within 5 years after the cause
of action arose.
Sec. 1205. Savings clause
Nothing in this chapter abrogates, diminishes, or weakens the provisions
of, nor provides any defense or element of mitigation in a criminal prosecution
or civil action under, any Federal or State law that prevents the violation of
the privacy of an individual in connection with the individual's use of the
Internet..
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- The table of chapters for title 17, United States
Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to chapter 11 the
following:
1201.
SEC. 104. EVALUATION OF IMPACT OF COPYRIGHT LAW AND AMENDMENTS ON ELECTRONIC
COMMERCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT.
(a) EVALUATION BY THE REGISTER OF COPYRIGHTS AND THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR
COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION- The Register of Copyrights and the Assistant
Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce shall
jointly evaluate--
(1) the effects of the amendments made by this title and the development of
electronic commerce and associated technology on the operation of sections 109
and 117 of title 17, United States Code; and
(2) the relationship between existing and emergent technology and the
operation of sections 109 and 117 of title 17, United States Code.
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS- The Register of Copyrights and the Assistant
Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce
shall, not later than 24 months after the date of the enactment of this Act,
submit to the Congress a joint report on the evaluation conducted under
subsection (a), including any legislative recommendations the Register and the
Assistant Secretary may have.
SEC. 105. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) IN GENERAL- Except as otherwise provided in this title, this title and
the amendments made by this title shall take effect on the date of the enactment
of this Act.
(b) AMENDMENTS RELATING TO CERTAIN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS- (1) The
following shall take effect upon the entry into force of the WIPO Copyright
Treaty with respect to the United States:
(A) Paragraph (5) of the definition of `international agreement' contained
in section 101 of title 17, United States Code, as amended by section 102(a)(4)
of this Act.
(B) The amendment made by section 102(a)(6) of this Act.
(C) Subparagraph (C) of section 104A(h)(1) of title 17, United States Code,
as amended by section 102(c)(1) of this Act.
(D) Subparagraph (C) of section 104A(h)(3) of title 17, United States Code,
as amended by section 102(c)(2) of this Act.
(2) The following shall take effect upon the entry into force of the WIPO
Performances and Phonograms Treaty with respect to the United States:
(A) Paragraph (6) of the definition of `international agreement' contained
in section 101 of title 17, United States Code, as amended by section 102(a)(4)
of this Act.
(B) The amendment made by section 102(a)(7) of this Act.
(C) The amendment made by section 102(b)(2) of this Act.
(D) Subparagraph (D) of section 104A(h)(1) of title 17, United States Code,
as amended by section 102(c)(1) of this Act.
(E) Subparagraph (D) of section 104A(h)(3) of title 17, United States Code,
as amended by section 102(c)(2) of this Act.
(F) The amendments made by section 102(c)(3) of this Act.
TITLE II--ONLINE COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT LIABILITY
LIMITATION
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the `Online Copyright Infringement Liability
Limitation Act.
SEC. 202. LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT.
(a) IN GENERAL- Chapter 5 of title 17, United States Code, is amended by
adding after section 511 the following new section:
Sec. 512. Limitations on liability relating to material online
(a) TRANSITORY DIGITAL NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS- A service provider shall not
be liable for monetary relief, or, except as provided in subsection (j), for
injunctive or other equitable relief, for infringement of copyright by reason of
the provider's transmitting, routing, or providing connections for, material
through a system or network controlled or operated by or for the service
provider, or by reason of the intermediate and transient storage of that
material in the course of such transmitting, routing, or providing connections,
if--
(1) the transmission of the material was initiated by or at the direction
of a person other than the service provider;
(2) the transmission, routing, provision of connections, or storage is
carried out through an automatic technical process without selection of the
material by the service provider;
(3) the service provider does not select the recipients of the material
except as an automatic response to the request of another person;
(4) no copy of the material made by the service provider in the course of
such intermediate or transient storage is maintained on the system or network in
a manner ordinarily accessible to anyone other than anticipated recipients, and
no such copy is maintained on the system or network in a manner ordinarily
accessible to such anticipated recipients for a longer period than is reasonably
necessary for the transmission, routing, or provision of connections;
and
(5) the material is transmitted through the system or network without
modification of its content.
(1) LIMITATION ON LIABILITY- A service provider shall not be liable for
monetary relief, or, except as provided in subsection (j), for injunctive or
other equitable relief, for infringement of copyright by reason of the
intermediate and temporary storage of material on a system or network controlled
or operated by or for the service provider in a case in which--
(A) the material is made available online by a person other than the
service provider;
(B) the material is transmitted from the person described in subparagraph
(A) through the system or network to a person other than the person described in
subparagraph (A) at the direction of that other person; and
(C) the storage is carried out through an automatic technical process for
the purpose of making the material available to users of the system or network
who, after the material is transmitted as described in subparagraph (B), request
access to the material from the person described in subparagraph
(A),
if the conditions set forth in paragraph (2) are met.
(2) CONDITIONS- The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) are
that--
(A) the material described in paragraph (1) is transmitted to the
subsequent users described in paragraph (1)(C) without modification to its
content from the manner in which the material was transmitted from the person
described in paragraph (1)(A);
(B) the service provider described in paragraph (1) complies with rules
concerning the refreshing, reloading, or other updating of the material when
specified by the person making the material available online in accordance with
a generally accepted industry standard data communications protocol for the
system or network through which that person makes the material available, except
that this subparagraph applies only if those rules are not used by the person
described in paragraph (1)(A) to prevent or unreasonably impair the intermediate
storage to which this subsection applies;
(C) the service provider does not interfere with the ability of technology
associated with the material to return to the person described in paragraph
(1)(A) the information that would have been available to that person if the
material had been obtained by the subsequent users described in paragraph (1)(C)
directly from that person, except that this subparagraph applies only if that
technology--
(i) does not significantly interfere with the performance of the provider's
system or network or with the intermediate storage of the
material;
(ii) is consistent with generally accepted industry standard communications
protocols; and
(iii) does not extract information from the provider's system or network
other than the information that would have been available to the person
described in paragraph (1)(A) if the subsequent users had gained access to the
material directly from that person;
(D) if the person described in paragraph (1)(A) has in effect a condition
that a person must meet prior to having access to the material, such as a
condition based on payment of a fee or provision of a password or other
information, the service provider permits access to the stored material in
significant part only to users of its system or network that have met those
conditions and only in accordance with those conditions; and
(E) if the person described in paragraph (1)(A) makes that material
available online without the authorization of the copyright owner of the
material, the service provider responds expeditiously to remove, or disable
access to, the material that is claimed to be infringing upon notification of
claimed infringement as described in subsection (c)(3), except that this
subparagraph applies only if--
(i) the material has previously been removed from the originating site or
access to it has been disabled, or a court has ordered that the material be
removed from the originating site or that access to the material on the
originating site be disabled; and
(ii) the party giving the notification includes in the notification a
statement confirming that the material has been removed from the originating
site or access to it has been disabled or that a court has ordered that the
material be removed from the originating site or that access to the material on
the originating site be disabled.
(c) INFORMATION RESIDING ON SYSTEMS OR NETWORKS AT DIRECTION OF
USERS-
(1) IN GENERAL- A service provider shall not be liable for monetary relief,
or, except as provided in subsection (j), for injunctive or other equitable
relief, for infringement of copyright by reason of the storage at the direction
of a user of material that resides on a system or network controlled or operated
by or for the service provider, if the service provider--
(A)(i) does not have actual knowledge that the material or an activity
using the material on the system or network is infringing;
(ii) in the absence of such actual knowledge, is not aware of facts or
circumstances from which infringing activity is apparent; or
(iii) upon obtaining such knowledge or awareness, acts expeditiously to
remove, or disable access to, the material;
(B) does not receive a financial benefit directly attributable to the
infringing activity, in a case in which the service provider has the right and
ability to control such activity; and
(C) upon notification of claimed infringement as described in paragraph
(3), responds expeditiously to remove, or disable access to, the material that
is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing
activity.
(2) DESIGNATED AGENT- The limitations on liability established in this
subsection apply to a service provider only if the service provider has
designated an agent to receive notifications of claimed infringement described
in paragraph (3), by making available through its service, including on its
website in a location accessible to the public, and by providing to the
Copyright Office, substantially the following information:
(A) the name, address, phone number, and electronic mail address of the
agent.
(B) other contact information which the Register of Copyrights may deem
appropriate.
The Register of Copyrights shall maintain a current directory of agents
available to the public for inspection, including through the Internet, in both
electronic and hard copy formats, and may require payment of a fee by service
providers to cover the costs of maintaining the directory.
(3) ELEMENTS OF NOTIFICATION-
(A) To be effective under this subsection, a notification of claimed
infringement must be a written communication provided to the designated agent of
a service provider that includes substantially the following:
(i) A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on
behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly
infringed.
(ii) Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed,
or, if multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are covered by a
single notification, a representative list of such works at that
site.
(iii) Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to
be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed or access to
which is to be disabled, and information reasonably sufficient to permit the
service provider to locate the material.
(iv) Information reasonably sufficient to permit the service provider to
contact the complaining party, such as an address, telephone number, and, if
available, an electronic mail address at which the complaining party may be
contacted.
(v) A statement that the complaining party has a good faith belief that use
of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright
owner, its agent, or the law.
(vi) A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and
under penalty of perjury, that the complaining party is authorized to act on
behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly
infringed.
(B)(i) Subject to clause (ii), a notification from a copyright owner or
from a person authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner that fails to
comply substantially with the provisions of subparagraph (A) shall not be
considered under paragraph (1)(A) in determining whether a service provider has
actual knowledge or is aware of facts or circumstances from which infringing
activity is apparent.
(ii) In a case in which the notification that is provided to the service
provider's designated agent fails to comply substantially with all the
provisions of subparagraph (A) but substantially complies with clauses (ii),
(iii), and (iv) of subparagraph (A), clause (i) of this subparagraph applies
only if the service provider promptly attempts to contact the person making the
notification or takes other reasonable steps to assist in the receipt of
notification that substantially complies with all the provisions of subparagraph
(A).
(d) INFORMATION LOCATION TOOLS- A service provider shall not be liable for
monetary relief, or, except as provided in subsection (j), for injunctive or
other equitable relief, for infringement of copyright by reason of the provider
referring or linking users to an online location containing infringing material
or infringing activity, by using information location tools, including a
directory, index, reference, pointer, or hypertext link, if the service
provider--
(1)(A) does not have actual knowledge that the material or activity is
infringing;
(B) in the absence of such actual knowledge, is not aware of facts or
circumstances from which infringing activity is apparent; or
(C) upon obtaining such knowledge or awareness, acts expeditiously to
remove, or disable access to, the material;
(2) does not receive a financial benefit directly attributable to the
infringing activity, in a case in which the service provider has the right and
ability to control such activity; and
(3) upon notification of claimed infringement as described in subsection
(c)(3), responds expeditiously to remove, or disable access to, the material
that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity,
except that, for purposes of this paragraph, the information described in
subsection (c)(3)(A)(iii) shall be identification of the reference or link, to
material or activity claimed to be infringing, that is to be removed or access
to which is to be disabled, and information reasonably sufficient to permit the
service provider to locate that reference or link.
(e) LIMITATION ON LIABILITY OF NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS- (1) When
a public or other nonprofit institution of higher education is a service
provider, and when a faculty member or graduate student who is an employee of
such institution is performing a teaching or research function, for the purposes
of subsections (a) and (b) such faculty member or graduate student shall be
considered to be a person other than the institution, and for the purposes of
subsections (c) and (d) such faculty member's or graduate student's knowledge or
awareness of his or her infringing activities shall not be attributed to the
institution, if--
(A) such faculty member's or graduate student's infringing activities do
not involve the provision of online access to instructional materials that are
or were required or recommended, within the preceding 3-year period, for a
course taught at the institution by such faculty member or graduate
student;
(B) the institution has not, within the preceding 3-year period, received
more than two notifications described in subsection (c)(3) of claimed
infringement by such faculty member or graduate student, and such notifications
of claimed infringement were not actionable under subsection (f); and
(C) the institution provides to all users of its system or network
informational materials that accurately describe, and promote compliance with,
the laws of the United States relating to copyright.
(2) INJUNCTIONS- For the purposes of this subsection, the limitations on
injunctive relief contained in subsections (j)(2) and (j)(3), but not those in
(j)(1), shall apply.
(f) MISREPRESENTATIONS- Any person who knowingly materially misrepresents
under this section--
(1) that material or activity is infringing, or
(2) that material or activity was removed or disabled by mistake or
misidentification,
shall be liable for any damages, including costs and attorneys' fees,
incurred by the alleged infringer, by any copyright owner or copyright owner's
authorized licensee, or by a service provider, who is injured by such
misrepresentation, as the result of the service provider relying upon such
misrepresentation in removing or disabling access to the material or activity
claimed to be infringing, or in replacing the removed material or ceasing to
disable access to it.
(g) REPLACEMENT OF REMOVED OR DISABLED MATERIAL AND LIMITATION ON OTHER
LIABILITY-
(1) NO LIABILITY FOR TAKING DOWN GENERALLY- Subject to paragraph (2), a
service provider shall not be liable to any person for any claim based on the
service provider's good faith disabling of access to, or removal of, material or
activity claimed to be infringing or based on facts or circumstances from which
infringing activity is apparent, regardless of whether the material or activity
is ultimately determined to be infringing.
(2) EXCEPTION- Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to material
residing at the direction of a subscriber of the service provider on a system or
network controlled or operated by or for the service provider that is removed,
or to which access is disabled by the service provider, pursuant to a notice
provided under subsection (c)(1)(C), unless the service provider--
(A) takes reasonable steps promptly to notify the subscriber that it has
removed or disabled access to the material;
(B) upon receipt of a counter notification described in paragraph (3),
promptly provides the person who provided the notification under subsection
(c)(1)(C) with a copy of the counter notification, and informs that person that
it will replace the removed material or cease disabling access to it in 10
business days; and
(C) replaces the removed material and ceases disabling access to it not
less than 10, nor more than 14, business days following receipt of the counter
notice, unless its designated agent first receives notice from the person who
submitted the notification under subsection (c)(1)(C) that such person has filed
an action seeking a court order to restrain the subscriber from engaging in
infringing activity relating to the material on the service provider's system or
network.
(3) CONTENTS OF COUNTER NOTIFICATION- To be effective under this
subsection, a counter notification must be a written communication provided to
the service provider's designated agent that includes substantially the
following:
(A) A physical or electronic signature of the subscriber.
(B) Identification of the material that has been removed or to which access
has been disabled and the location at which the material appeared before it was
removed or access to it was disabled.
(C) A statement under penalty of perjury that the subscriber has a good
faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or
misidentification of the material to be removed or disabled.
(D) The subscriber's name, address, and telephone number, and a statement
that the subscriber consents to the jurisdiction of Federal District Court for
the judicial district in which the address is located, or if the subscriber's
address is outside of the United States, for any judicial district in which the
service provider may be found, and that the subscriber will accept service of
process from the person who provided notification under subsection (c)(1)(C) or
an agent of such person.
(4) LIMITATION ON OTHER LIABILITY- A service provider's compliance with
paragraph (2) shall not subject the service provider to liability for copyright
infringement with respect to the material identified in the notice provided
under subsection (c)(1)(C).
(h) SUBPOENA TO IDENTIFY INFRINGER-
(1) REQUEST- A copyright owner or a person authorized to act on the owner's
behalf may request the clerk of any United States district court to issue a
subpoena to a service provider for identification of an alleged infringer in
accordance with this subsection.
(2) CONTENTS OF REQUEST- The request may be made by filing with the
clerk--
(A) a copy of a notification described in subsection
(c)(3)(A);
(B) a proposed subpoena; and
(C) a sworn declaration to the effect that the purpose for which the
subpoena is sought is to obtain the identity of an alleged infringer and that
such information will only be used for the purpose of protecting rights under
this title.
(3) CONTENTS OF SUBPOENA- The subpoena shall authorize and order the
service provider receiving the notification and the subpoena to expeditiously
disclose to the copyright owner or person authorized by the copyright owner
information sufficient to identify the alleged infringer of the material
described in the notification to the extent such information is available to the
service provider.
(4) BASIS FOR GRANTING SUBPOENA- If the notification filed satisfies the
provisions of subsection (c)(3)(A), the proposed subpoena is in proper form, and
the accompanying declaration is properly executed, the clerk shall expeditiously
issue and sign the proposed subpoena and return it to the requester for delivery
to the service provider.
(5) ACTIONS OF SERVICE PROVIDER RECEIVING SUBPOENA- Upon receipt of the
issued subpoena, either accompanying or subsequent to the receipt of a
notification described in subsection (c)(3)(A), the service provider shall
expeditiously disclose to the copyright owner or person authorized by the
copyright owner the information required by the subpoena, notwithstanding any
other provision of law and regardless of whether the service provider responds
to the notification.
(6) RULES APPLICABLE TO SUBPOENA- Unless otherwise provided by this section
or by applicable rules of the court, the procedure for issuance and delivery of
the subpoena, and the remedies for noncompliance with the subpoena, shall be
governed to the greatest extent practicable by those provisions of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure governing the issuance, service, and enforcement of a
subpoena duces tecum.
(i) CONDITIONS FOR ELIGIBILITY-
(1) ACCOMMODATION OF TECHNOLOGY- The limitations on liability established
by this section shall apply to a service provider only if the service
provider--
(A) has adopted and reasonably implemented, and informs subscribers and
account holders of the service provider's system or network of, a policy that
provides for the termination in appropriate circumstances of subscribers and
account holders of the service provider's system or network who are repeat
infringers; and
(B) accommodates and does not interfere with standard technical
measures.
(2) DEFINITION- As used in this subsection, the term `standard technical
measures' means technical measures that are used by copyright owners to identify
or protect copyrighted works and--
(A) have been developed pursuant to a broad consensus of copyright owners
and service providers in an open, fair, voluntary, multi-industry standards
process;
(B) are available to any person on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms;
and
(C) do not impose substantial costs on service providers or substantial
burdens on their systems or networks.
(j) INJUNCTIONS- The following rules shall apply in the case of any
application for an injunction under section 502 against a service provider that
is not subject to monetary remedies under this section:
(1) SCOPE OF RELIEF- (A) With respect to conduct other than that which
qualifies for the limitation on remedies set forth in subsection (a), the court
may grant injunctive relief with respect to a service provider only in one or
more of the following forms:
(i) An order restraining the service provider from providing access to
infringing material or activity residing at a particular online site on the
provider's system or network.
(ii) An order restraining the service provider from providing access to a
subscriber or account holder of the service provider's system or network who is
engaging in infringing activity and is identified in the order, by terminating
the accounts of the subscriber or account holder that are specified in the
order.
(iii) Such other injunctive relief as the court may consider necessary to
prevent or restrain infringement of copyrighted material specified in the order
of the court at a particular online location, if such relief is the least
burdensome to the service provider among the forms of relief comparably
effective for that purpose.
(B) If the service provider qualifies for the limitation on remedies
described in subsection (a), the court may only grant injunctive relief in one
or both of the following forms:
(i) An order restraining the service provider from providing access to a
subscriber or account holder of the service provider's system or network who is
using the provider's service to engage in infringing activity and is identified
in the order, by terminating the accounts of the subscriber or account holder
that are specified in the order.
(ii) An order restraining the service provider from providing access, by
taking reasonable steps specified in the order to block access, to a specific,
identified, online location outside the United States.
(2) CONSIDERATIONS- The court, in considering the relevant criteria for
injunctive relief under applicable law, shall consider--
(A) whether such an injunction, either alone or in combination with other
such injunctions issued against the same service provider under this subsection,
would significantly burden either the provider or the operation of the
provider's system or network;
(B) the magnitude of the harm likely to be suffered by the copyright owner
in the digital network environment if steps are not taken to prevent or restrain
the infringement;
(C) whether implementation of such an injunction would be technically
feasible and effective, and would not interfere with access to noninfringing
material at other online locations; and
(D) whether other less burdensome and comparably effective means of
preventing or restraining access to the infringing material are
available.
(3) NOTICE AND EX PARTE ORDERS- Injunctive relief under this subsection
shall be available only after notice to the service provider and an opportunity
for the service provider to appear are provided, except for orders ensuring the
preservation of evidence or other orders having no material adverse effect on
the operation of the service provider's communications network.
(1) SERVICE PROVIDER- (A) As used in subsection (a), the term `service
provider' means an entity offering the transmission, routing, or providing of
connections for digital online communications, between or among points specified
by a user, of material of the user's choosing, without modification to the
content of the material as sent or received.
(B) As used in this section, other than subsection (a), the term `service
provider' means a provider of online services or network access, or the operator
of facilities therefor, and includes an entity described in subparagraph
(A).
(2) MONETARY RELIEF- As used in this section, the term `monetary relief'
means damages, costs, attorneys' fees, and any other form of monetary
payment.
(l) OTHER DEFENSES NOT AFFECTED- The failure of a service provider's
conduct to qualify for limitation of liability under this section shall not bear
adversely upon the consideration of a defense by the service provider that the
service provider's conduct is not infringing under this title or any other
defense.
(m) PROTECTION OF PRIVACY- Nothing in this section shall be construed to
condition the applicability of subsections (a) through (d) on--
(1) a service provider monitoring its service or affirmatively seeking
facts indicating infringing activity, except to the extent consistent with a
standard technical measure complying with the provisions of subsection (i);
or
(2) a service provider gaining access to, removing, or disabling access to
material in cases in which such conduct is prohibited by law.
(n) CONSTRUCTION- Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) describe separate and
distinct functions for purposes of applying this section. Whether a service
provider qualifies for the limitation on liability in any one of those
subsections shall be based solely on the criteria in that subsection, and shall
not affect a determination of whether that service provider qualifies for the
limitations on liability under any other such subsection.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- The table of sections for chapter 5 of title 17,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
512. Limitations on liability relating to material online.
SEC. 203. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect on the
date of the enactment of this Act.
TITLE III--COMPUTER MAINTENANCE OR REPAIR COPYRIGHT
EXEMPTION
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the `Computer Maintenance Competition Assurance
Act'.
SEC. 302. LIMITATIONS ON EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS; COMPUTER PROGRAMS.
Section 117 of title 17, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking `Notwithstanding' and inserting the following:
(a) MAKING OF ADDITIONAL COPY OR ADAPTATION BY OWNER OF COPY-
Notwithstanding';
(2) by striking `Any exact' and inserting the following:
(b) LEASE, SALE, OR OTHER TRANSFER OF ADDITIONAL COPY OR ADAPTATION- Any
exact'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
(c) MACHINE MAINTENANCE OR REPAIR- Notwithstanding the provisions of
section 106, it is not an infringement for the owner or lessee of a machine to
make or authorize the making of a copy of a computer program if such copy is
made solely by virtue of the activation of a machine that lawfully contains an
authorized copy of the computer program, for purposes only of maintenance or
repair of that machine, if--
(1) such new copy is used in no other manner and is destroyed immediately
after the maintenance or repair is completed; and
(2) with respect to any computer program or part thereof that is not
necessary for that machine to be activated, such program or part thereof is not
accessed or used other than to make such new copy by virtue of the activation of
the machine.
(d) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this section--
(1) the `maintenance' of a machine is the servicing of the machine in order
to make it work in accordance with its original specifications and any changes
to those specifications authorized for that machine; and
(2) the `repair' of a machine is the restoring of the machine to the state
of working in accordance with its original specifications and any changes to
those specifications authorized for that machine.
TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SEC. 401. PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
AND THE REGISTER OF COPYRIGHTS
(a) COMPENSATION- (1) Section 3(d) of title 35, United States Code, is
amended by striking `prescribed by law for Assistant Secretaries of Commerce'
and inserting `in effect for level III of the Executive Schedule under section
5314 of title 5, United States Code'.
(2) Section 701(e) of title 17, United States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking `IV' and inserting `III'; and
(B) by striking `5315' and inserting `5314'.
(3) Section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following:
Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Patents and
Trademarks.
(b) CLARIFICATION OF AUTHORITY OF THE COPYRIGHT OFFICE- Section 701 of title
17, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (e) as subsections (c) through
(f), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
(b) In addition to the functions and duties set out elsewhere in this
chapter, the Register of Copyrights shall perform the following functions:
(1) Advise Congress on national and international issues relating to
copyright, other matters arising under this title, and related
matters.
(2) Provide information and assistance to Federal departments and agencies
and the Judiciary on national and international issues relating to copyright,
other matters arising under this title, and related matters.
(3) Participate in meetings of international intergovernmental
organizations and meetings with foreign government officials relating to
copyright, other matters arising under this title, and related matters,
including as a member of United States delegations as authorized by the
appropriate Executive branch authority.
(4) Conduct studies and programs regarding copyright, other matters arising
under this title, and related matters, the administration of the Copyright
Office, or any function vested in the Copyright Office by law, including
educational programs conducted cooperatively with foreign intellectual property
offices and international intergovernmental organizations.
(5) Perform such other functions as Congress may direct, or as may be
appropriate in furtherance of the functions and duties specifically set forth in
this title.
SEC. 402. EPHEMERAL RECORDINGS.
Section 112(a) of title 17, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as subparagraphs (A), (B),
and (C), respectively;
(2) by inserting `(1)' after `(a)';
(3) by inserting after `under a license' the following: `, including a
statutory license under section 114(f),
(4) by inserting after `114(a),' the following: `or for a transmitting
organization that is a broadcast radio or television station licensed as such by
the Federal Communications Commission and that makes a broadcast transmission of
a performance of a sound recording in a digital format on a nonsubscription
basis, and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
(2) In a case in which a transmitting organization entitled to make a copy
or phonorecord under paragraph (1) in connection with the transmission to the
public of a performance or display of a work is prevented from making such copy
or phonorecord by reason of the application by the copyright owner of technical
measures that prevent the reproduction of the work, the copyright owner shall
make available to the transmitting organization the necessary means for
permitting the making of such copy or phonorecord as permitted under that
paragraph, if it is technologically feasible and economically reasonable for the
copyright owner to do so. If the copyright owner fails to do so in a timely
manner in light of the transmitting organization's reasonable business
requirements, the transmitting organization shall not be liable for a violation
of section 1201(a)(1) of this title for engaging in such activities as are
necessary to make such copies or phonorecords as permitted under paragraph (1)
of this subsection.
SEC. 403. LIMITATIONS ON EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS; DISTANCE EDUCATION.
(a) RECOMMENDATIONS BY REGISTER OF COPYRIGHTS- Not later than 6 months after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Register of Copyrights, after
consultation with representatives of copyright owners, nonprofit educational
institutions, and nonprofit libraries and archives, shall submit to the Congress
recommendations on how to promote distance education through digital
technologies, including interactive digital networks, while maintaining an
appropriate balance between the rights of copyright owners and the needs of
users of copyrighted works. Such recommendations shall include any legislation
the Register of Copyrights considers appropriate to achieve the objective
described in the preceding sentence.
(b) FACTORS- In formulating recommendations under subsection (a), the
Register of Copyrights shall consider--
(1) the need for an exemption from exclusive rights of copyright owners for
distance education through digital networks;
(2) the categories of works to be included under any distance education
exemption;
(3) the extent of appropriate quantitative limitations on the portions of
works that may be used under any distance education exemption;
(4) the parties who should be entitled to the benefits of any distance
education exemption;
(5) the parties who should be designated as eligible recipients of distance
education materials under any distance education exemption;
(6) whether and what types of technological measures can or should be
employed to safeguard against unauthorized access to, and use or retention of,
copyrighted materials as a condition of eligibility for any distance education
exemption, including, in light of developing technological capabilities, the
exemption set out in section 110(2) of title 17, United States Code;
(7) the extent to which the availability of licenses for the use of
copyrighted works in distance education through interactive digital networks
should be considered in assessing eligibility for any distance education
exemption; and
(8) such other issues relating to distance education through interactive
digital networks that the Register considers appropriate.
SEC. 404. EXEMPTION FOR LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES.
Section 108 of title 17, United States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking `Notwithstanding' and inserting `Except as otherwise
provided in this title and notwithstanding';
(B) by inserting after `no more than one copy or phonorecord of a work' the
following: `, except as provided in subsections (b) and (c); and
(C) in paragraph (3) by inserting after `copyright' the following: `that
appears on the copy or phonorecord that is reproduced under the provisions of
this section, or includes a legend stating that the work may be protected by
copyright if no such notice can be found on the copy or phonorecord that is
reproduced under the provisions of this section;
(A) by striking `a copy or phonorecord' and inserting `three copies or
phonorecords';
(B) by striking `in facsimile form'; and
(C) by striking `if the copy or phonorecord reproduced is currently in the
collections of the library or archives.' and inserting `if--
(1) the copy or phonorecord reproduced is currently in the collections of
the library or archives; and
(2) any such copy or phonorecord that is reproduced in digital format is
not otherwise distributed in that format and is not made available to the public
in that format outside the premises of the library or archives.'; and
(A) by striking `a copy or phonorecord' and inserting `three copies or
phonorecords';
(B) by striking `in facsimile form';
(C) by inserting `or if the existing format in which the work is stored has
become obsolete,' after `stolen,
(D) by striking `if the library or archives has, after a reasonable effort,
determined that an unused replacement cannot be obtained at a fair price.' and
inserting `if--
(1) the library or archives has, after a reasonable effort, determined that
an unused replacement cannot be obtained at a fair price; and
(2) any such copy or phonorecord that is reproduced in digital format is
not made available to the public in that format outside the premises of the
library or archives in lawful possession of such copy.'; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
For purposes of this subsection, a format shall be considered obsolete if
the machine or device necessary to render perceptible a work stored in that
format is no longer manufactured or is no longer reasonably available in the
commercial marketplace.
SEC. 405. SCOPE OF EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS IN SOUND RECORDINGS; EPHEMERAL
RECORDINGS.
(a) SCOPE OF EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS IN SOUND RECORDINGS- Section 114 of title 17,
United States Code, is amended as follows:
(1) Subsection (d) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the
following:
(A) a nonsubscription broadcast transmission; and
(B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
(2) STATUTORY LICENSING OF CERTAIN TRANSMISSIONS- The performance of a
sound recording publicly by means of a subscription digital audio transmission
not exempt under paragraph (1), an eligible nonsubscription transmission, or a
transmission not exempt under paragraph (1) that is made by a preexisting
satellite digital audio radio service shall be subject to statutory licensing,
in accordance with subsection (f) if--
(A)(i) the transmission is not part of an interactive
service;
(ii) except in the case of a transmission to a business establishment, the
transmitting entity does not automatically and intentionally cause any device
receiving the transmission to switch from one program channel to another;
and
(iii) except as provided in section 1002(e), the transmission of the sound
recording is accompanied, if technically feasible, by the information encoded in
that sound recording, if any, by or under the authority of the copyright owner
of that sound recording, that identifies the title of the sound recording, the
featured recording artist who performs on the sound recording, and related
information, including information concerning the underlying musical work and
its writer;
(B) in the case of a subscription transmission not exempt under paragraph
(1) that is made by a preexisting subscription service in the same transmission
medium used by such service on July 31, 1998, or in the case of a transmission
not exempt under paragraph (1) that is made by a preexisting satellite digital
audio radio service--
(i) the transmission does not exceed the sound recording performance
complement; and
(ii) the transmitting entity does not cause to be published by means of an
advance program schedule or prior announcement the titles of the specific sound
recordings or phonorecords embodying such sound recordings to be transmitted;
and
(C) in the case of an eligible nonsubscription transmission or a
subscription transmission not exempt under paragraph (1) that is made by a new
subscription service or by a preexisting subscription service other than in the
same transmission medium used by such service on July 31, 1998--
(i) the transmission does not exceed the sound recording performance
complement, except that this requirement shall not apply in the case of a
retransmission of a broadcast transmission if the retransmission is made by a
transmitting entity that does not have the right or ability to control the
programming of the broadcast station making the broadcast transmission,
unless--
(I) the broadcast station makes broadcast
transmissions--
(aa) in digital format that regularly exceed the sound recording
performance complement; or
(bb) in analog format, a substantial portion of which, on a weekly
basis, exceed the sound recording performance complement; and
(II) the sound recording copyright owner or its representative has notified
the transmitting entity in writing that broadcast transmissions of the copyright
owner's sound recordings exceed the sound recording performance complement as
provided in this clause;
(ii) the transmitting entity does not cause to be published, or induce or
facilitate the publication, by means of an advance program schedule or prior
announcement, the titles of the specific sound recordings to be transmitted, the
phonorecords embodying such sound recordings, or, other than for illustrative
purposes, the names of the featured recording artists, except that this clause
does not disqualify a transmitting entity that makes a prior announcement that a
particular artist will be featured within an unspecified future time period, and
in the case of a retransmission of a broadcast transmission by a transmitting
entity that does not have the right or ability to control the programming of the
broadcast transmission, the requirement of this clause shall not apply to a
prior oral announcement by the broadcast station, or to an advance program
schedule published, induced, or facilitated by the broadcast station, if the
transmitting entity does not have actual knowledge and has not received written
notice from the copyright owner or its representative that the broadcast station
publishes or induces or facilitates the publication of such advance program
schedule, or if such advance program schedule is a schedule of classical music
programming published by the broadcast station in the same manner as published
by that broadcast station on or before September 30, 1998;
(I) is not part of an archived program of less than 5 hours
duration;
(II) is not part of an archived program of 5 hours or greater in duration
that is made available for a period exceeding 2 weeks;
(III) is not part of a continuous program which is of less than 3 hours
duration; or
(IV) is not part of an identifiable program in which performances of sound
recordings are rendered in a predetermined order, other than an archived or
continuous program, that is transmitted at--
(aa) more than 3 times in any 2-week period that have been publicly
announced in advance, in the case of a program of less than 1 hour in duration,
or
(bb) more than 4 times in any 2-week period that have been publicly
announced in advance, in the case of a program of 1 hour or more in
duration,
except that the requirement of this subclause shall not apply in the case of
a retransmission of a broadcast transmission by a transmitting entity that does
not have the right or ability to control the programming of the broadcast
transmission, unless the transmitting entity is given notice in writing by the
copyright owner of the sound recording that the broadcast station makes
broadcast transmissions that regularly violate such
requirement;
(iv) the transmitting entity does not knowingly perform the sound
recording, as part of a service that offers transmissions of visual images
contemporaneously with transmissions of sound recordings, in a manner that is
likely to cause confusion, to cause mistake, or to deceive, as to the
affiliation, connection, or association of the copyright owner or featured
recording artist with the transmitting entity or a particular product or service
advertised by the transmitting entity, or as to the origin, sponsorship, or
approval by the copyright owner or featured recording artist of the activities
of the transmitting entity other than the performance of the sound recording
itself;
(v) the transmitting entity cooperates to prevent, to the extent feasible
without imposing substantial costs or burdens, a transmission recipient or any
other person or entity from automatically scanning the transmitting entity's
transmissions alone or together with transmissions by other transmitting
entities in order to select a particular sound recording to be transmitted to
the transmission recipient, except that the requirement of this clause shall not
apply to a satellite digital audio service that is in operation, or that is
licensed by the Federal Communications Commission, on or before July 31,
1998;
(vi) the transmitting entity takes no affirmative steps to cause or induce
the making of a phonorecord by the transmission recipient, and if the technology
used by the transmitting entity enables the transmitting entity to limit the
making by the transmission recipient of phonorecords of the transmission
directly in a digital format, the transmitting entity sets such technology to
limit such making of phonorecords to the extent permitted by such
technology;
(vii) phonorecords of the sound recording have been distributed to the
public under the authority of the copyright owner or the copyright owner
authorizes the transmitting entity to transmit the sound recording, and the
transmitting entity makes the transmission from a phonorecord lawfully made
under the authority of the copyright owner, except that the requirement of this
clause shall not apply to a retransmission of a broadcast transmission by a
transmitting entity that does not have the right or ability to control the
programming of the broadcast transmission, unless the transmitting entity is
given notice in writing by the copyright owner of the sound recording that the
broadcast station makes broadcast transmissions that regularly violate such
requirement;
(viii) the transmitting entity accommodates and does not interfere with the
transmission of technical measures that are widely used by sound recording
copyright owners to identify or protect copyrighted works, and that are
technically feasible of being transmitted by the transmitting entity without
imposing substantial costs on the transmitting entity or resulting in
perceptible aural or visual degradation of the digital signal, except that the
requirement of this clause shall not apply to a satellite digital audio service
that is in operation, or that is licensed under the authority of the Federal
Communications Commission, on or before July 31, 1998, to the extent that such
service has designed, developed, or made commitments to procure equipment or
technology that is not compatible with such technical measures before such
technical measures are widely adopted by sound recording copyright owners;
and
(ix) the transmitting entity identifies in textual data the sound recording
during, but not before, the time it is performed, including the title of the
sound recording, the title of the phonorecord embodying such sound recording, if
any, and the featured recording artist, in a manner to permit it to be displayed
to the transmission recipient by the device or technology intended for receiving
the service provided by the transmitting entity, except that the obligation in
this clause shall not take effect until 1 year after the date of the enactment
of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and shall not apply in the case of a
retransmission of a broadcast transmission by a transmitting entity that does
not have the right or ability to control the programming of the broadcast
transmission, or in the case in which devices or technology intended for
receiving the service provided by the transmitting entity that have the
capability to display such textual data are not common in the
marketplace.
(2) Subsection (f) is amended--
(A) in the subsection heading by striking `NONEXEMPT SUBSCRIPTION' and
inserting `CERTAIN NONEXEMPT';
(i) in the first sentence--
(I) by striking `(1) No' and inserting `(1)(A) No';
(II) by striking `the activities' and inserting `subscription transmissions
by preexisting subscription services and transmissions by preexisting satellite
digital audio radio services'; and
(III) by striking `2000' and inserting `2001'; and
(ii) by amending the third sentence to read as follows: `Any copyright
owners of sound recordings, preexisting subscription services, or preexisting
satellite digital audio radio services may submit to the Librarian of Congress
licenses covering such subscription transmissions with respect to such sound
recordings.'; and
(C) by striking paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5) and inserting the
following:
(B) In the absence of license agreements negotiated under subparagraph (A),
during the 60-day period commencing 6 months after publication of the notice
specified in subparagraph (A), and upon the filing of a petition in accordance
with section 803(a)(1), the Librarian of Congress shall, pursuant to chapter 8,
convene a copyright arbitration royalty panel to determine and publish in the
Federal Register a schedule of rates and terms which, subject to paragraph (3),
shall be binding on all copyright owners of sound recordings and entities
performing sound recordings affected by this paragraph. In establishing rates
and terms for preexisting subscription services and preexisting satellite
digital audio radio services, in addition to the objectives set forth in section
801(b)(1), the copyright arbitration royalty panel may consider the rates and
terms for comparable types of subscription digital audio transmission services
and comparable circumstances under voluntary license agreements negotiated as
provided in subparagraph (A).
(C)(i) Publication of a notice of the initiation of voluntary negotiation
proceedings as specified in subparagraph (A) shall be repeated, in accordance
with regulations that the Librarian of Congress shall prescribe--
(I) no later than 30 days after a petition is filed by any copyright owners
of sound recordings, any preexisting subscription services, or any preexisting
satellite digital audio radio services indicating that a new type of
subscription digital audio transmission service on which sound recordings are
performed is or is about to become operational; and
(II) in the first week of January 2001, and at 5-year intervals
thereafter.
(ii) The procedures specified in subparagraph (B) shall be repeated, in
accordance with regulations that the Librarian of Congress shall prescribe, upon
filing of a petition in accordance with section 803(a)(1) during a 60-day period
commencing--
(I) 6 months after publication of a notice of the initiation of voluntary
negotiation proceedings under subparagraph (A) pursuant to a petition under
clause (i)(I) of this subparagraph; or
(II) on July 1, 2001, and at 5-year intervals thereafter.
(iii) The procedures specified in subparagraph (B) shall be concluded in
accordance with section 802.
(2)(A) No later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act, the Librarian of Congress shall cause notice to be
published in the Federal Register of the initiation of voluntary negotiation
proceedings for the purpose of determining reasonable terms and rates of royalty
payments for public performances of sound recordings by means of eligible
nonsubscription transmissions and transmissions by new subscription services
specified by subsection (d)(2) during the period beginning on the date of the
enactment of such Act and ending on December 31, 2000, or such other date as the
parties may agree. Such rates and terms shall distinguish among the different
types of eligible nonsubscription transmission services and new subscription
services then in operation and shall include a minimum fee for each such type of
service. Any copyright owners of sound recordings or any entities performing
sound recordings affected by this paragraph may submit to the Librarian of
Congress licenses covering such eligible nonsubscription transmissions and new
subscription services with respect to such sound recordings. The parties to each
negotiation proceeding shall bear their own costs.
(B) In the absence of license agreements negotiated under subparagraph (A),
during the 60-day period commencing 6 months after publication of the notice
specified in subparagraph (A), and upon the filing of a petition in accordance
with section 803(a)(1), the Librarian of Congress shall, pursuant to chapter 8,
convene a copyright arbitration royalty panel to determine and publish in the
Federal Register a schedule of rates and terms which, subject to paragraph (3),
shall be binding on all copyright owners of sound recordings and entities
performing sound recordings affected by this paragraph during the period
beginning on the date of the enactment of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
and ending on December 31, 2000, or such other date as the parties may agree.
Such rates and terms shall distinguish among the different types of eligible
nonsubscription transmission services then in operation and shall include a
minimum fee for each such type of service, such differences to be based on
criteria including, but not limited to, the quantity and nature of the use of
sound recordings and the degree to which use of the service may substitute for
or may promote the purchase of phonorecords by consumers. In establishing rates
and terms for transmissions by eligible nonsubscription services and new
subscription services, the copyright arbitration royalty panel shall establish
rates and terms that most clearly represent the rates and terms that would have
been negotiated in the marketplace between a willing buyer and a willing seller.
In determining such rates and terms, the copyright arbitration royalty panel
shall base its decision on economic, competitive and programming information
presented by the parties, including--
(i) whether use of the service may substitute for or may promote the sales
of phonorecords or otherwise may interfere with or may enhance the sound
recording copyright owner's other streams of revenue from its sound recordings;
and
(ii) the relative roles of the copyright owner and the transmitting entity
in the copyrighted work and the service made available to the public with
respect to relative creative contribution, technological contribution, capital
investment, cost, and risk.
In establishing such rates and terms, the copyright arbitration royalty
panel may consider the rates and terms for comparable types of digital audio
transmission services and comparable circumstances under voluntary license
agreements negotiated under subparagraph (A).
(C)(i) Publication of a notice of the initiation of voluntary negotiation
proceedings as specified in subparagraph (A) shall be repeated in accordance
with regulations that the Librarian of Congress shall prescribe--
(I) no later than 30 days after a petition is filed by any copyright owners
of sound recordings or any eligible nonsubscription service or new subscription
service indicating that a new type of eligible nonsubscription service or new
subscription service on which sound recordings are performed is or is about to
become operational; and
(II) in the first week of January 2000, and at 2-year intervals thereafter,
except to the extent that different years for the repeating of such proceedings
may be determined in accordance with subparagraph (A).
(ii) The procedures specified in subparagraph (B) shall be repeated, in
accordance with regulations that the Librarian of Congress shall prescribe, upon
filing of a petition in accordance with section 803(a)(1) during a 60-day period
commencing--
(I) 6 months after publication of a notice of the initiation of voluntary
negotiation proceedings under subparagraph (A) pursuant to a petition under
clause (i)(I); or
(II) on July 1, 2000, and at 2-year intervals thereafter, except to the
extent that different years for the repeating of such proceedings may be
determined in accordance with subparagraph (A).
(iii) The procedures specified in subparagraph (B) shall be concluded in
accordance with section 802.
(3) License agreements voluntarily negotiated at any time between 1 or more
copyright owners of sound recordings and 1 or more entities performing sound
recordings shall be given effect in lieu of any determination by a copyright
arbitration royalty panel or decision by the Librarian of Congress.
(4)(A) The Librarian of Congress shall also establish requirements by which
copyright owners may receive reasonable notice of the use of their sound
recordings under this section, and under which records of such use shall be kept
and made available by entities performing sound recordings.
(B) Any person who wishes to perform a sound recording publicly by means of
a transmission eligible for statutory licensing under this subsection may do so
without infringing the exclusive right of the copyright owner of the sound
recording--
(i) by complying with such notice requirements as the Librarian of Congress
shall prescribe by regulation and by paying royalty fees in accordance with this
subsection; or
(ii) if such royalty fees have not been set, by agreeing to pay such
royalty fees as shall be determined in accordance with this
subsection.
(C) Any royalty payments in arrears shall be made on or before the
twentieth day of the month next succeeding the month in which the royalty fees
are set..
(3) Subsection (g) is amended--
(A) in the subsection heading by striking `SUB-SCRIPTION';
(B) in paragraph (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
`subscription transmission licensed' and inserting transmission licensed under
a statutory license';
(C) in subparagraphs (A) and (B) by striking `subscription';
and
(D) in paragraph (2) by striking `subscription'.
(4) Subsection (j) is amended--
(A) by striking paragraphs (4) and (9) and redesignating paragraphs (2),
(3), (5), (6), (7), and (8) as paragraphs (3), (5), (9), (12), (13), and (14),
respectively;
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
(2) An `archived program' is a predetermined program that is available
repeatedly on the demand of the transmission recipient and that is performed in
the same order from the beginning, except that an archived program shall not
include a recorded event or broadcast transmission that makes no more than an
incidental use of sound recordings, as long as such recorded event or broadcast
transmission does not contain an entire sound recording or feature a particular
sound recording.';
(C) by inserting after paragraph (3), as so redesignated, the
following:
(4) A `continuous program' is a predetermined program that is continuously
performed in the same order and that is accessed at a point in the program that
is beyond the control of the transmission recipient.';
(D) by inserting after paragraph (5), as so redesignated, the
following:
(6) An `eligible nonsubscription transmission' is a noninteractive
nonsubscription digital audio transmission not exempt under subsection (d)(1)
that is made as part of a service that provides audio programming consisting, in
whole or in part, of performances of sound recordings, including retransmissions
of broadcast transmissions, if the primary purpose of the service is to provide
to the public such audio or other entertainment programming, and the primary
purpose of the service is not to sell, advertise, or promote particular products
or services other than sound recordings, live concerts, or other music-related
events.
(7) An `interactive service' is one that enables a member of the public to
receive a transmission of a program specially created for the recipient, or on
request, a transmission of a particular sound recording, whether or not as part
of a program, which is selected by or on behalf of the recipient. The ability of
individuals to request that particular sound recordings be performed for
reception by the public at large, or in the case of a subscription service, by
all subscribers of the service, does not make a service interactive, if the
programming on each channel of the service does not substantially consist of
sound recordings that are performed within 1 hour of the request or at a time
designated by either the transmitting entity or the individual making such
request. If an entity offers both interactive and noninteractive services
(either concurrently or at different times), the noninteractive component shall
not be treated as part of an interactive service.
(8) A `new subscription service' is a service that performs sound
recordings by means of noninteractive subscription digital audio transmissions
and that is not a preexisting subscription service or a preexisting satellite
digital audio radio service;
(E) by inserting after paragraph (9), as so redesignated, the
following:
(10) A `preexisting satellite digital audio radio service' is a
subscription satellite digital audio radio service provided pursuant to a
satellite digital audio radio service license issued by the Federal
Communications Commission on or before July 31, 1998, and any renewal of such
license to the extent of the scope of the original license, and may include a
limited number of sample channels representative of the subscription service
that are made available on a nonsubscription basis in order to promote the
subscription service.
(11) A `preexisting subscription service' is a service that performs sound
recordings by means of noninteractive audio-only subscription digital audio
transmissions, which was in existence and was making such transmissions to the
public for a fee on or before July 31, 1998, and may include a limited number of
sample channels representative of the subscription service that are made
available on a nonsubscription basis in order to promote the subscription
service.'; and
(F) by adding at the end the following:
(15) A `transmission' is either an initial transmission or a
retransmission.
(5) The amendment made by paragraph (2)(B)(i)(III) of this subsection shall
be deemed to have been enacted as part of the Digital Performance Right in Sound
Recordings Act of 1995, and the publication of notice of proceedings under
section 114(f)(1) of title 17, United States Code, as in effect upon the
effective date of that Act, for the determination of royalty payments shall be
deemed to have been made for the period beginning on the effective date of that
Act and ending on December 1, 2001.
(6) The amendments made by this subsection do not annul, limit, or otherwise
impair the rights that are preserved by section 114 of title 17, United States
Code, including the rights preserved by subsections (c), (d)(4), and (i) of such
section.
(b) EPHEMERAL RECORDINGS- Section 112 of title 17, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
(e) STATUTORY LICENSE- (1) A transmitting organization entitled to transmit
to the public a performance of a sound recording under the limitation on
exclusive rights specified by section 114(d)(1)(C)(iv) or under a statutory
license in accordance with section 114(f) is entitled to a statutory license,
under the conditions specified by this subsection, to make no more than 1
phonorecord of the sound recording (unless the terms and conditions of the
statutory license allow for more), if the following conditions are
satisfied:
(A) The phonorecord is retained and used solely by the transmitting
organization that made it, and no further phonorecords are reproduced from
it.
(B) The phonorecord is used solely for the transmitting organization's own
transmissions originating in the United States under a statutory license in
accordance with section 114(f) or the limitation on exclusive rights specified
by section 114(d)(1)(C)(iv).
(C) Unless preserved exclusively for purposes of archival preservation, the
phonorecord is destroyed within 6 months from the date the sound recording was
first transmitted to the public using the phonorecord.
(D) Phonorecords of the sound recording have been distributed to the public
under the authority of the copyright owner or the copyright owner authorizes the
transmitting entity to transmit the sound recording, and the transmitting entity
makes the phonorecord under this subsection from a phonorecord lawfully made and
acquired under the authority of the copyright owner.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision of the antitrust laws, any copyright
owners of sound recordings and any transmitting organizations entitled to a
statutory license under this subsection may negotiate and agree upon royalty
rates and license terms and conditions for making phonorecords of such sound
recordings under this section and the proportionate division of fees paid among
copyright owners, and may designate common agents to negotiate, agree to, pay,
or receive such royalty payments.
(4) No later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act, the Librarian of Congress shall cause notice to be
published in the Federal Register of the initiation of voluntary negotiation
proceedings for the purpose of determining reasonable terms and rates of royalty
payments for the activities specified by paragraph (2) of this subsection during
the period beginning on the date of the enactment of such Act and ending on
December 31, 2000, or such other date as the parties may agree. Such rates shall
include a minimum fee for each type of service offered by transmitting
organizations. Any copyright owners of sound recordings or any transmitting
organizations entitled to a statutory license under this subsection may submit
to the Librarian of Congress licenses covering such activities with respect to
such sound recordings. The parties to each negotiation proceeding shall bear
their own costs.
(5) In the absence of license agreements negotiated under paragraph (3),
during the 60-day period commencing 6 months after publication of the notice
specified in paragraph (4), and upon the filing of a petition in accordance with
section 803(a)(1), the Librarian of Congress shall, pursuant to chapter 8,
convene a copyright arbitration royalty panel to determine and publish in the
Federal Register a schedule of reasonable rates and terms which, subject to
paragraph (6), shall be binding on all copyright owners of sound recordings and
transmitting organizations entitled to a statutory license under this subsection
during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act and ending on December 31, 2000, or such other date as
the parties may agree. Such rates shall include a minimum fee for each type of
service offered by transmitting organizations. The copyright arbitration royalty
panel shall establish rates that most clearly represent the fees that would have
been negotiated in the marketplace between a willing buyer and a willing seller.
In determining such rates and terms, the copyright arbitration royalty panel
shall base its decision on economic, competitive, and programming information
presented by the parties, including--
(A) whether use of the service may substitute for or may promote the sales
of phonorecords or otherwise interferes with or enhances the copyright owner's
traditional streams of revenue; and
(B) the relative roles of the copyright owner and the transmitting
organization in the copyrighted work and the service made available to the
public with respect to relative creative contribution, technological
contribution, capital investment, cost, and risk.
In establishing such rates and terms, the copyright arbitration royalty
panel may consider the rates and terms under voluntary license agreements
negotiated as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4). The Librarian of Congress
shall also establish requirements by which copyright owners may receive
reasonable notice of the use of their sound recordings under this section, and
under which records of such use shall be kept and made available by transmitting
organizations entitled to obtain a statutory license under this subsection.
(6) License agreements voluntarily negotiated at any time between 1 or more
copyright owners of sound recordings and 1 or more transmitting organizations
entitled to obtain a statutory license under this subsection shall be given
effect in lieu of any determination by a copyright arbitration royalty panel or
decision by the Librarian of Congress.
(7) Publication of a notice of the initiation of voluntary negotiation
proceedings as specified in paragraph (4) shall be repeated, in accordance with
regulations that the Librarian of Congress shall prescribe, in the first week of
January 2000, and at 2-year intervals thereafter, except to the extent that
different years for the repeating of such proceedings may be determined in
accordance with paragraph (4). The procedures specified in paragraph (5) shall
be repeated, in accordance with regulations that the Librarian of Congress shall
prescribe, upon filing of a petition in accordance with section 803(a)(1),
during a 60-day period commencing on July 1, 2000, and at 2-year intervals
thereafter, except to the extent that different years for the repeating of such
proceedings may be determined in accordance with paragraph (4). The procedures
specified in paragraph (5) shall be concluded in accordance with section
802.
(8)(A) Any person who wishes to make a phonorecord of a sound recording
under a statutory license in accordance with this subsection may do so without
infringing the exclusive right of the copyright owner of the sound recording
under section 106(1)--
(i) by complying with such notice requirements as the Librarian of Congress
shall prescribe by regulation and by paying royalty fees in accordance with this
subsection; or
(ii) if such royalty fees have not been set, by agreeing to pay such
royalty fees as shall be determined in accordance with this
subsection.
(B) Any royalty payments in arrears shall be made on or before the 20th day
of the month next succeeding the month in which the royalty fees are set.
(9) If a transmitting organization entitled to make a phonorecord under
this subsection is prevented from making such phonorecord by reason of the
application by the copyright owner of technical measures that prevent the
reproduction of the sound recording, the copyright owner shall make available to
the transmitting organization the necessary means for permitting the making of
such phonorecord as permitted under this subsection, if it is technologically
feasible and economically reasonable for the copyright owner to do so. If the
copyright owner fails to do so in a timely manner in light of the transmitting
organization's reasonable business requirements, the transmitting organization
shall not be liable for a violation of section 1201(a)(1) of this title for
engaging in such activities as are necessary to make such phonorecords as
permitted under this subsection.
(10) Nothing in this subsection annuls, limits, impairs, or otherwise
affects in any way the existence or value of any of the exclusive rights of the
copyright owners in a sound recording, except as otherwise provided in this
subsection, or in a musical work, including the exclusive rights to reproduce
and distribute a sound recording or musical work, including by means of a
digital phonorecord delivery, under sections 106(1), 106(3), and 115, and the
right to perform publicly a sound recording or musical work, including by means
of a digital audio transmission, under sections 106(4) and 106(6).
(c) SCOPE OF SECTION 112(a) OF TITLE 17 NOT AFFECTED- Nothing in this
section or the amendments made by this section shall affect the scope of section
112(a) of title 17, United States Code, or the entitlement of any person to an
exemption thereunder.
(d) PROCEDURAL AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 8- Section 802 of title 17, United
States Code, is amended--
(A) in the first sentence by striking `60' and inserting `90';
and
(B) in the third sentence by striking `that 60-day period' and inserting `an
additional 30-day period'; and
(2) in subsection (g) by inserting after the second sentence the following:
`When this title provides that the royalty rates or terms that were previously
in effect are to expire on a specified date, any adjustment by the Librarian of
those rates or terms shall be effective as of the day following the date of
expiration of the rates or terms that were previously in effect, even if the
Librarian's decision is rendered on a later date.
(e) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- (1) Section 801(b)(1) of title 17, United States
Code, is amended in the second sentence by striking sections 114, 115, and 116'
and inserting `sections 114(f)(1)(B), 115, and 116'.
(2) Section 802(c) of title 17, United States Code, is amended by striking
`section 111, 114, 116, or 119, any person entitled to a compulsory license' and
inserting `section 111, 112, 114, 116, or 119, any transmitting organization
entitled to a statutory license under section 112(f), any person entitled to a
statutory license'.
(3) Section 802(g) of title 17, United States Code, is amended by striking
`sections 111, 114' and inserting `sections 111, 112, 114'.
(4) Section 802(h)(2) of title 17, United States Code, is amended by
striking `section 111, 114' and inserting `section 111, 112, 114'.
(5) Section 803(a)(1) of title 17, United States Code, is amended by
striking `sections 114, 115' and inserting `sections 112, 114, 115'.
(6) Section 803(a)(5) of title 17, United States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking `section 114' and inserting `section 112 or 114';
and
(B) by striking `that section' and inserting `those sections'.
SEC. 406. ASSUMPTION OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS RELATED TO TRANSFERS OF
RIGHTS IN MOTION PICTURES.
(a) IN GENERAL- Part VI of title 28, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 180--ASSUMPTION OF CERTAIN CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
Sec. 4001. Assumption of contractual obligations related to transfers of
rights in motion pictures.
Sec. 4001. Assumption of contractual obligations related to transfers of
rights in motion pictures
(a) ASSUMPTION OF OBLIGATIONS- (1) In the case of a transfer of copyright
ownership under United States law in a motion picture (as the terms `transfer of
copyright ownership' and `motion picture' are defined in section 101 of title
17) that is produced subject to 1 or more collective bargaining agreements
negotiated under the laws of the United States, if the transfer is executed on
or after the effective date of this chapter and is not limited to public
performance rights, the transfer instrument shall be deemed to incorporate the
assumption agreements applicable to the copyright ownership being transferred
that are required by the applicable collective bargaining agreement, and the
transferee shall be subject to the obligations under each such assumption
agreement to make residual payments and provide related notices, accruing after
the effective date of the transfer and applicable to the exploitation of the
rights transferred, and any remedies under each such assumption agreement for
breach of those obligations, as those obligations and remedies are set forth in
the applicable collective bargaining agreement, if--
(A) the transferee knows or has reason to know at the time of the transfer
that such collective bargaining agreement was or will be applicable to the
motion picture; or
(B) in the event of a court order confirming an arbitration award against
the transferor under the collective bargaining agreement, the transferor does
not have the financial ability to satisfy the award within 90 days after the
order is issued.
(2) For purposes of paragraph (1)(A), `knows or has reason to know' means
any of the following:
(A) Actual knowledge that the collective bargaining agreement was or will
be applicable to the motion picture.
(B)(i) Constructive knowledge that the collective bargaining agreement was
or will be applicable to the motion picture, arising from recordation of a
document pertaining to copyright in the motion picture under section 205 of
title 17 or from publication, at a site available to the public on-line that is
operated by the relevant union, of information that identifies the motion
picture as subject to a collective bargaining agreement with that union, if the
site permits commercially reasonable verification of the date on which the
information was available for access.
(ii) Clause (i) applies only if the transfer referred to in subsection
(a)(1) occurs--
(I) after the motion picture is completed, or
(II) before the motion picture is completed and--
(aa) within 18 months before the filing of an application for copyright
registration for the motion picture under section 408 of title 17,
or
(bb) if no such application is filed, within 18 months before the first
publication of the motion picture in the United States.
(C) Awareness of other facts and circumstances pertaining to a particular
transfer from which it is apparent that the collective bargaining agreement was
or will be applicable to the motion picture.
(b) SCOPE OF EXCLUSION OF TRANSFERS OF PUBLIC PERFORMANCE RIGHTS- For
purposes of this section, the exclusion under subsection (a) of transfers of
copyright ownership in a motion picture that are limited to public performance
rights includes transfers to a terrestrial broadcast station, cable system, or
programmer to the extent that the station, system, or programmer is functioning
as an exhibitor of the motion picture, either by exhibiting the motion picture
on its own network, system, service, or station, or by initiating the
transmission of an exhibition that is carried on another network, system,
service, or station. When a terrestrial broadcast station, cable system, or
programmer, or other transferee, is also functioning otherwise as a distributor
or as a producer of the motion picture, the public performance exclusion does
not affect any obligations imposed on the transferee to the extent that it is
engaging in such functions.
(c) EXCLUSION FOR GRANTS OF SECURITY INTERESTS- Subsection (a) shall not
apply to--
(1) a transfer of copyright ownership consisting solely of a mortgage,
hypothecation, or other security interest; or
(2) a subsequent transfer of the copyright ownership secured by the
security interest described in paragraph (1) by or under the authority of the
secured party, including a transfer through the exercise of the secured party's
rights or remedies as a secured party, or by a subsequent transferee.
The exclusion under this subsection shall not affect any rights or remedies
under law or contract.
(d) DEFERRAL PENDING RESOLUTION OF BONA FIDE DISPUTE- A transferee on which
obligations are imposed under subsection (a) by virtue of paragraph (1) of that
subsection may elect to defer performance of such obligations that are subject
to a bona fide dispute between a union and a prior transferor until that dispute
is resolved, except that such deferral shall not stay accrual of any union
claims due under an applicable collective bargaining agreement.
(e) SCOPE OF OBLIGATIONS DETERMINED BY PRIVATE AGREEMENT- Nothing in this
section shall expand or diminish the rights, obligations, or remedies of any
person under the collective bargaining agreements or assumption agreements
referred to in this section.
(f) FAILURE TO NOTIFY- If the transferor under subsection (a) fails to
notify the transferee under subsection (a) of applicable collective bargaining
obligations before the execution of the transfer instrument, and subsection (a)
is made applicable to the transferee solely by virtue of subsection (a)(1)(B),
the transferor shall be liable to the transferee for any damages suffered by the
transferee as a result of the failure to notify.
(g) DETERMINATION OF DISPUTES AND CLAIMS- Any dispute concerning the
application of subsections (a) through (f) shall be determined by an action in
United States district court, and the court in its discretion may allow the
recovery of full costs by or against any party and may also award a reasonable
attorney's fee to the prevailing party as part of the costs.
(h) STUDY- The Comptroller General, in consultation with the Register of
Copyrights, shall conduct a study of the conditions in the motion picture
industry that gave rise to this section, and the impact of this section on the
motion picture industry. The Comptroller General shall report the findings of
the study to the Congress within 2 years after the effective date of this
chapter.'.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- The table of chapters for part VI of title 28,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
4001.
SEC. 407. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except as otherwise provided in this title, this title and the amendments
made by this title shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this
Act.
TITLE V--PROTECTION OF CERTAIN ORIGINAL DESIGNS
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be referred to as the `Vessel Hull Design Protection Act'.
SEC. 502. PROTECTION OF CERTAIN ORIGINAL DESIGNS.
Title 17, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following
new chapter:
CHAPTER 13--PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS
1302. Designs not subject to protection.
1303. Revisions, adaptations, and rearrangements.
1304. Commencement of protection.
1305. Term of protection.
1307. Effect of omission of notice.
1310. Application for registration.
1311. Benefit of earlier filing date in foreign country.
1312. Oaths and acknowledgments.
1313. Examination of application and issue or refusal of
registration.
1314. Certification of registration.
1315. Publication of announcements and indexes.
1319. Correction of errors in certificates.
1320. Ownership and transfer.
1321. Remedy for infringement.
1323. Recovery for infringement.
1324. Power of court over registration.
1325. Liability for action on registration fraudulently obtained.
1326. Penalty for false marking.
1327. Penalty for false representation.
1328. Enforcement by Treasury and Postal Service.
1329. Relation to design patent law.
1330. Common law and other rights unaffected.
1331. Administrator; Office of the Administrator.
1332. No retroactive effect.
Sec. 1301. Designs protected
(1) IN GENERAL- The designer or other owner of an original design of a
useful article which makes the article attractive or distinctive in appearance
to the purchasing or using public may secure the protection provided by this
chapter upon complying with and subject to this chapter.
(2) VESSEL HULLS- The design of a vessel hull, including a plug or mold, is
subject to protection under this chapter, notwithstanding section
1302(4).
(b) DEFINITIONS- For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms have
the following meanings:
(1) A design is `original' if it is the result of the designer's creative
endeavor that provides a distinguishable variation over prior work pertaining to
similar articles which is more than merely trivial and has not been copied from
another source.
(2) A `useful article' is a vessel hull, including a plug or mold, which in
normal use has an intrinsic utilitarian function that is not merely to portray
the appearance of the article or to convey information. An article which
normally is part of a useful article shall be deemed to be a useful
article.
(3) A `vessel' is a craft, especially one larger than a rowboat, designed
to navigate on water, but does not include any such craft that exceeds 200 feet
in length.
(4) A `hull' is the frame or body of a vessel, including the deck of a
vessel, exclusive of masts, sails, yards, and rigging.
(5) A `plug' means a device or model used to make a mold for the purpose of
exact duplication, regardless of whether the device or model has an intrinsic
utilitarian function that is not only to portray the appearance of the product
or to convey information.
(6) A `mold' means a matrix or form in which a substance for material is
used, regardless of whether the matrix or form has an intrinsic utilitarian
function that is not only to portray the appearance of the product or to convey
information.
Sec. 1302. Designs not subject to protection
Protection under this chapter shall not be available for a design that
is--
(2) staple or commonplace, such as a standard geometric figure, a familiar
symbol, an emblem, or a motif, or another shape, pattern, or configuration which
has become standard, common, prevalent, or ordinary;
(3) different from a design excluded by paragraph (2) only in insignificant
details or in elements which are variants commonly used in the relevant
trades;
(4) dictated solely by a utilitarian function of the article that embodies
it; or
(5) embodied in a useful article that was made public by the designer or
owner in the United States or a foreign country more than 1 year before the date
of the application for registration under this chapter.
Sec. 1303. Revisions, adaptations, and rearrangements
Protection for a design under this chapter shall be available
notwithstanding the employment in the design of subject matter excluded from
protection under section 1302 if the design is a substantial revision,
adaptation, or rearrangement of such subject matter. Such protection shall be
independent of any subsisting protection in subject matter employed in the
design, and shall not be construed as securing any right to subject matter
excluded from protection under this chapter or as extending any subsisting
protection under this chapter.
Sec. 1304. Commencement of protection
The protection provided for a design under this chapter shall commence upon
the earlier of the date of publication of the registration under section 1313(a)
or the date the design is first made public as defined by section 1310(b).
Sec. 1305. Term of protection
(a) IN GENERAL- Subject to subsection (b), the protection provided under
this chapter for a design shall continue for a term of 10 years beginning on the
date of the commencement of protection under section 1304.
(b) EXPIRATION- All terms of protection provided in this section shall run
to the end of the calendar year in which they would otherwise expire.
(c) TERMINATION OF RIGHTS- Upon expiration or termination of protection in
a particular design under this chapter, all rights under this chapter in the
design shall terminate, regardless of the number of different articles in which
the design may have been used during the term of its protection.
Sec. 1306. Design notice
(a) CONTENTS OF DESIGN NOTICE- (1) Whenever any design for which protection
is sought under this chapter is made public under section 1310(b), the owner of
the design shall, subject to the provisions of section 1307, mark it or have it
marked legibly with a design notice consisting of--
(A) the words `Protected Design', the abbreviation `Prot'd Des.', or the
letter `D' with a circle, or the symbol `*D*';
(B) the year of the date on which protection for the design commenced;
and
(C) the name of the owner, an abbreviation by which the name can be
recognized, or a generally accepted alternative designation of the
owner.
Any distinctive identification of the owner may be used for purposes of
subparagraph (C) if it has been recorded by the Administrator before the design
marked with such identification is registered.
(2) After registration, the registration number may be used instead of the
elements specified in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (1).
(b) LOCATION OF NOTICE- The design notice shall be so located and applied
as to give reasonable notice of design protection while the useful article
embodying the design is passing through its normal channels of commerce.
(c) SUBSEQUENT REMOVAL OF NOTICE- When the owner of a design has complied
with the provisions of this section, protection under this chapter shall not be
affected by the removal, destruction, or obliteration by others of the design
notice on an article.
Sec. 1307. Effect of omission of notice
(a) ACTIONS WITH NOTICE- Except as provided in subsection (b), the omission
of the notice prescribed in section 1306 shall not cause loss of the protection
under this chapter or prevent recovery for infringement under this chapter
against any person who, after receiving written notice of the design protection,
begins an undertaking leading to infringement under this chapter.
(b) ACTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE- The omission of the notice prescribed in
section 1306 shall prevent any recovery under section 1323 against a person who
began an undertaking leading to infringement under this chapter before receiving
written notice of the design protection. No injunction shall be issued under
this chapter with respect to such undertaking unless the owner of the design
reimburses that person for any reasonable expenditure or contractual obligation
in connection with such undertaking that was incurred before receiving written
notice of the design protection, as the court in its discretion directs. The
burden of providing written notice of design protection shall be on the owner of
the design.
Sec. 1308. Exclusive rights
The owner of a design protected under this chapter has the exclusive right
to--
(1) make, have made, or import, for sale or for use in trade, any useful
article embodying that design; and
(2) sell or distribute for sale or for use in trade any useful article
embodying that design.
Sec. 1309. Infringement
(a) ACTS OF INFRINGEMENT- Except as provided in subsection (b), it shall be
infringement of the exclusive rights in a design protected under this chapter
for any person, without the consent of the owner of the design, within the
United States and during the term of such protection, to--
(1) make, have made, or import, for sale or for use in trade, any
infringing article as defined in subsection (e); or
(2) sell or distribute for sale or for use in trade any such infringing
article.
(b) ACTS OF SELLERS AND DISTRIBUTORS- A seller or distributor of an
infringing article who did not make or import the article shall be deemed to
have infringed on a design protected under this chapter only if that
person--
(1) induced or acted in collusion with a manufacturer to make, or an
importer to import such article, except that merely purchasing or giving an
order to purchase such article in the ordinary course of business shall not of
itself constitute such inducement or collusion; or
(2) refused or failed, upon the request of the owner of the design, to make
a prompt and full disclosure of that person's source of such article, and that
person orders or reorders such article after receiving notice by registered or
certified mail of the protection subsisting in the design.
(c) ACTS WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE- It shall not be infringement under this section
to make, have made, import, sell, or distribute, any article embodying a design
which was created without knowledge that a design was protected under this
chapter and was copied from such protected design.
(d) ACTS IN ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS- A person who incorporates into
that person's product of manufacture an infringing article acquired from others
in the ordinary course of business, or who, without knowledge of the protected
design embodied in an infringing article, makes or processes the infringing
article for the account of another person in the ordinary course of business,
shall not be deemed to have infringed the rights in that design under this
chapter except under a condition contained in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection
(b). Accepting an order or reorder from the source of the infringing article
shall be deemed ordering or reordering within the meaning of subsection
(b)(2).
(e) INFRINGING ARTICLE DEFINED- As used in this section, an `infringing
article' is any article the design of which has been copied from a design
protected under this chapter, without the consent of the owner of the protected
design. An infringing article is not an illustration or picture of a protected
design in an advertisement, book, periodical, newspaper, photograph, broadcast,
motion picture, or similar medium. A design shall not be deemed to have been
copied from a protected design if it is original and not substantially similar
in appearance to a protected design.
(f) ESTABLISHING ORIGINALITY- The party to any action or proceeding under
this chapter who alleges rights under this chapter in a design shall have the
burden of establishing the design's originality whenever the opposing party
introduces an earlier work which is identical to such design, or so similar as
to make prima facie showing that such design was copied from such work.
(g) REPRODUCTION FOR TEACHING OR ANALYSIS- It is not an infringement of the
exclusive rights of a design owner for a person to reproduce the design in a
useful article or in any other form solely for the purpose of teaching,
analyzing, or evaluating the appearance, concepts, or techniques embodied in the
design, or the function of the useful article embodying the design.
Sec. 1310. Application for registration
(a) TIME LIMIT FOR APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION- Protection under this
chapter shall be lost if application for registration of the design is not made
within 2 years after the date on which the design is first made public.
(b) WHEN DESIGN IS MADE PUBLIC- A design is made public when an existing
useful article embodying the design is anywhere publicly exhibited, publicly
distributed, or offered for sale or sold to the public by the owner of the
design or with the owner's consent.
(c) APPLICATION BY OWNER OF DESIGN- Application for registration may be
made by the owner of the design.
(d) CONTENTS OF APPLICATION- The application for registration shall be made
to the Administrator and shall state--
(1) the name and address of the designer or designers of the
design;
(2) the name and address of the owner if different from the
designer;
(3) the specific name of the useful article embodying the design;
(4) the date, if any, that the design was first made public, if such date
was earlier than the date of the application;
(5) affirmation that the design has been fixed in a useful article;
and
(6) such other information as may be required by the
Administrator.
The application for registration may include a description setting forth the
salient features of the design, but the absence of such a description shall not
prevent registration under this chapter.
(e) SWORN STATEMENT- The application for registration shall be accompanied
by a statement under oath by the applicant or the applicant's duly authorized
agent or representative, setting forth, to the best of the applicant's knowledge
and belief--
(1) that the design is original and was created by the designer or
designers named in the application;
(2) that the design has not previously been registered on behalf of the
applicant or the applicant's predecessor in title; and
(3) that the applicant is the person entitled to protection and to
registration under this chapter.
If the design has been made public with the design notice prescribed in
section 1306, the statement shall also describe the exact form and position of
the design notice.
(f) EFFECT OF ERRORS- (1) Error in any statement or assertion as to the
utility of the useful article named in the application under this section, the
design of which is sought to be registered, shall not affect the protection
secured under this chapter.
(2) Errors in omitting a joint designer or in naming an alleged joint
designer shall not affect the validity of the registration, or the actual
ownership or the protection of the design, unless it is shown that the error
occurred with deceptive intent.
(g) DESIGN MADE IN SCOPE OF EMPLOYMENT- In a case in which the design was
made within the regular scope of the designer's employment and individual
authorship of the design is difficult or impossible to ascribe and the
application so states, the name and address of the employer for whom the design
was made may be stated instead of that of the individual designer.
(h) PICTORIAL REPRESENTATION OF DESIGN- The application for registration
shall be accompanied by two copies of a drawing or other pictorial
representation of the useful article embodying the design, having one or more
views, adequate to show the design, in a form and style suitable for
reproduction, which shall be deemed a part of the application.
(i) DESIGN IN MORE THAN ONE USEFUL ARTICLE- If the distinguishing elements
of a design are in substantially the same form in different useful articles, the
design shall be protected as to all such useful articles when protected as to
one of them, but not more than one registration shall be required for the
design.
(j) APPLICATION FOR MORE THAN ONE DESIGN- More than one design may be
included in the same application under such conditions as may be prescribed by
the Administrator. For each design included in an application the fee prescribed
for a single design shall be paid.
Sec. 1311. Benefit of earlier filing date in foreign country
An application for registration of a design filed in the United States by
any person who has, or whose legal representative or predecessor or successor in
title has, previously filed an application for registration of the same design
in a foreign country which extends to designs of owners who are citizens of the
United States, or to applications filed under this chapter, similar protection
to that provided under this chapter shall have that same effect as if filed in
the United States on the date on which the application was first filed in such
foreign country, if the application in the United States is filed within 6
months after the earliest date on which any such foreign application was
filed.
Sec. 1312. Oaths and acknowledgments
(a) IN GENERAL- Oaths and acknowledgments required by this chapter--
(A) before any person in the United States authorized by law to administer
oaths; or
(B) when made in a foreign country, before any diplomatic or consular
officer of the United States authorized to administer oaths, or before any
official authorized to administer oaths in the foreign country concerned, whose
authority shall be proved by a certificate of a diplomatic or consular officer
of the United States; and
(2) shall be valid if they comply with the laws of the State or country
where made.
(b) WRITTEN DECLARATION IN LIEU OF OATH- (1) The Administrator may by rule
prescribe that any document which is to be filed under this chapter in the
Office of the Administrator and which is required by any law, rule, or other
regulation to be under oath, may be subscribed to by a written declaration in
such form as the Administrator may prescribe, and such declaration shall be in
lieu of the oath otherwise required.
(2) Whenever a written declaration under paragraph (1) is used, the
document containing the declaration shall state that willful false statements
are punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, pursuant to section 1001 of
title 18, and may jeopardize the validity of the application or document or a
registration resulting therefrom.
Sec. 1313. Examination of application and issue or refusal of
registration
(a) DETERMINATION OF REGISTRABILITY OF DESIGN; REGISTRATION- Upon the
filing of an application for registration in proper form under section 1310, and
upon payment of the fee prescribed under section 1316, the Administrator shall
determine whether or not the application relates to a design which on its face
appears to be subject to protection under this chapter, and, if so, the Register
shall register the design. Registration under this subsection shall be announced
by publication. The date of registration shall be the date of publication.
(b) REFUSAL TO REGISTER; RECONSIDERATION- If, in the judgment of the
Administrator, the application for registration relates to a design which on its
face is not subject to protection under this chapter, the Administrator shall
send to the applicant a notice of refusal to register and the grounds for the
refusal. Within 3 months after the date on which the notice of refusal is sent,
the applicant may, by written request, seek reconsideration of the application.
After consideration of such a request, the Administrator shall either register
the design or send to the applicant a notice of final refusal to register.
(c) APPLICATION TO CANCEL REGISTRATION- Any person who believes he or she
is or will be damaged by a registration under this chapter may, upon payment of
the prescribed fee, apply to the Administrator at any time to cancel the
registration on the ground that the design is not subject to protection under
this chapter, stating the reasons for the request. Upon receipt of an
application for cancellation, the Administrator shall send to the owner of the
design, as shown in the records of the Office of the Administrator, a notice of
the application, and the owner shall have a period of 3 months after the date on
which such notice is mailed in which to present arguments to the Administrator
for support of the validity of the registration. The Administrator shall also
have the authority to establish, by regulation, conditions under which the
opposing parties may appear and be heard in support of their arguments. If,
after the periods provided for the presentation of arguments have expired, the
Administrator determines that the applicant for cancellation has established
that the design is not subject to protection under this chapter, the
Administrator shall order the registration stricken from the record.
Cancellation under this subsection shall be announced by publication, and notice
of the Administrator's final determination with respect to any application for
cancellation shall be sent to the applicant and to the owner of record.
Sec. 1314. Certification of registration
Certificates of registration shall be issued in the name of the United
States under the seal of the Office of the Administrator and shall be recorded
in the official records of the Office. The certificate shall state the name of
the useful article, the date of filing of the application, the date of
registration, and the date the design was made public, if earlier than the date
of filing of the application, and shall contain a reproduction of the drawing or
other pictorial representation of the design. If a description of the salient
features of the design appears in the application, the description shall also
appear in the certificate. A certificate of registration shall be admitted in
any court as prima facie evidence of the facts stated in the certificate.
Sec. 1315. Publication of announcements and indexes
(a) PUBLICATIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR- The Administrator shall publish
lists and indexes of registered designs and cancellations of designs and may
also publish the drawings or other pictorial representations of registered
designs for sale or other distribution.
(b) FILE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF REGISTERED DESIGNS- The Administrator shall
establish and maintain a file of the drawings or other pictorial representations
of registered designs. The file shall be available for use by the public under
such conditions as the Administrator may prescribe.
Sec. 1316. Fees
`The Administrator shall by regulation set reasonable fees for the filing of
applications to register designs under this chapter and for other services
relating to the administration of this chapter, taking into consideration the
cost of providing these services and the benefit of a public record.
Sec. 1317. Regulations
`The Administrator may establish regulations for the administration of this
chapter.
Sec. 1318. Copies of records
Upon payment of the prescribed fee, any person may obtain a certified copy
of any official record of the Office of the Administrator that relates to this
chapter. That copy shall be admissible in evidence with the same effect as the
original.
Sec. 1319. Correction of errors in certificates
The Administrator may, by a certificate of correction under seal, correct
any error in a registration incurred through the fault of the Office, or, upon
payment of the required fee, any error of a clerical or typographical nature
occurring in good faith but not through the fault of the Office. Such
registration, together with the certificate, shall thereafter have the same
effect as if it had been originally issued in such corrected form.
Sec. 1320. Ownership and transfer
(a) PROPERTY RIGHT IN DESIGN- The property right in a design subject to
protection under this chapter shall vest in the designer, the legal
representatives of a deceased designer or of one under legal incapacity, the
employer for whom the designer created the design in the case of a design made
within the regular scope of the designer's employment, or a person to whom the
rights of the designer or of such employer have been transferred. The person in
whom the property right is vested shall be considered the owner of the
design.
(b) TRANSFER OF PROPERTY RIGHT- The property right in a registered design,
or a design for which an application for registration has been or may be filed,
may be assigned, granted, conveyed, or mortgaged by an instrument in writing,
signed by the owner, or may be bequeathed by will.
(c) OATH OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRANSFER- An oath or acknowledgment under
section 1312 shall be prima facie evidence of the execution of an assignment,
grant, conveyance, or mortgage under subsection (b).
(d) RECORDATION OF TRANSFER- An assignment, grant, conveyance, or mortgage
under subsection (b) shall be void as against any subsequent purchaser or
mortgagee for a valuable consideration, unless it is recorded in the Office of
the Administrator within 3 months after its date of execution or before the date
of such subsequent purchase or mortgage.
Sec. 1321. Remedy for infringement
(a) IN GENERAL- The owner of a design is entitled, after issuance of a
certificate of registration of the design under this chapter, to institute an
action for any infringement of the design.
(b) REVIEW OF REFUSAL TO REGISTER- (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the owner
of a design may seek judicial review of a final refusal of the Administrator to
register the design under this chapter by bringing a civil action, and may in
the same action, if the court adjudges the design subject to protection under
this chapter, enforce the rights in that design under this chapter.
(2) The owner of a design may seek judicial review under this section
if--
(A) the owner has previously duly filed and prosecuted to final refusal an
application in proper form for registration of the design;
(B) the owner causes a copy of the complaint in the action to be delivered
to the Administrator within 10 days after the commencement of the action;
and
(C) the defendant has committed acts in respect to the design which would
constitute infringement with respect to a design protected under this
chapter.
(c) ADMINISTRATOR AS PARTY TO ACTION- The Administrator may, at the
Administrator's option, become a party to the action with respect to the issue
of registrability of the design claim by entering an appearance within 60 days
after being served with the complaint, but the failure of the Administrator to
become a party shall not deprive the court of jurisdiction to determine that
issue.
(d) USE OF ARBITRATION TO RESOLVE DISPUTE- The parties to an infringement
dispute under this chapter, within such time as may be specified by the
Administrator by regulation, may determine the dispute, or any aspect of the
dispute, by arbitration. Arbitration shall be governed by title 9. The parties
shall give notice of any arbitration award to the Administrator, and such award
shall, as between the parties to the arbitration, be dispositive of the issues
to which it relates. The arbitration award shall be unenforceable until such
notice is given. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude the Administrator
from determining whether a design is subject to registration in a cancellation
proceeding under section 1313(c).
Sec. 1322. Injunctions
(a) IN GENERAL- A court having jurisdiction over actions under this chapter
may grant injunctions in accordance with the principles of equity to prevent
infringement of a design under this chapter, including, in its discretion,
prompt relief by temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions.
(b) DAMAGES FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF WRONGFULLY OBTAINED- A seller or
distributor who suffers damage by reason of injunctive relief wrongfully
obtained under this section has a cause of action against the applicant for such
injunctive relief and may recover such relief as may be appropriate, including
damages for lost profits, cost of materials, loss of good will, and punitive
damages in instances where the injunctive relief was sought in bad faith, and,
unless the court finds extenuating circumstances, reasonable attorney's
fees.
Sec. 1323. Recovery for infringement
(a) DAMAGES- Upon a finding for the claimant in an action for infringement
under this chapter, the court shall award the claimant damages adequate to
compensate for the infringement. In addition, the court may increase the damages
to such amount, not exceeding $50,000 or $1 per copy, whichever is greater, as
the court determines to be just. The damages awarded shall constitute
compensation and not a penalty. The court may receive expert testimony as an aid
to the determination of damages.
(b) INFRINGER'S PROFITS- As an alternative to the remedies provided in
subsection (a), the court may award the claimant the infringer's profits
resulting from the sale of the copies if the court finds that the infringer's
sales are reasonably related to the use of the claimant's design. In such a
case, the claimant shall be required to prove only the amount of the infringer's
sales and the infringer shall be required to prove its expenses against such
sales.
(c) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS- No recovery under subsection (a) or (b) shall
be had for any infringement committed more than 3 years before the date on which
the complaint is filed.
(d) ATTORNEY'S FEES- In an action for infringement under this chapter, the
court may award reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party.
(e) DISPOSITION OF INFRINGING AND OTHER ARTICLES- The court may order that
all infringing articles, and any plates, molds, patterns, models, or other means
specifically adapted for making the articles, be delivered up for destruction or
other disposition as the court may direct.
Sec. 1324. Power of court over registration
In any action involving the protection of a design under this chapter, the
court, when appropriate, may order registration of a design under this chapter
or the cancellation of such a registration. Any such order shall be certified by
the court to the Administrator, who shall make an appropriate entry upon the
record.
Sec. 1325. Liability for action on registration fraudulently obtained
Any person who brings an action for infringement knowing that registration
of the design was obtained by a false or fraudulent representation materially
affecting the rights under this chapter, shall be liable in the sum of $10,000,
or such part of that amount as the court may determine. That amount shall be to
compensate the defendant and shall be charged against the plaintiff and paid to
the defendant, in addition to such costs and attorney's fees of the defendant as
may be assessed by the court.
Sec. 1326. Penalty for false marking
(a) IN GENERAL- Whoever, for the purpose of deceiving the public, marks
upon, applies to, or uses in advertising in connection with an article made,
used, distributed, or sold, a design which is not protected under this chapter,
a design notice specified in section 1306, or any other words or symbols
importing that the design is protected under this chapter, knowing that the
design is not so protected, shall pay a civil fine of not more than $500 for
each such offense.
(b) SUIT BY PRIVATE PERSONS- Any person may sue for the penalty established
by subsection (a), in which event one-half of the penalty shall be awarded to
the person suing and the remainder shall be awarded to the United States.
Sec. 1327. Penalty for false representation
Whoever knowingly makes a false representation materially affecting the
rights obtainable under this chapter for the purpose of obtaining registration
of a design under this chapter shall pay a penalty of not less than $500 and not
more than $1,000, and any rights or privileges that individual may have in the
design under this chapter shall be forfeited.
Sec. 1328. Enforcement by Treasury and Postal Service
(a) REGULATIONS- The Secretary of the Treasury and the United States Postal
Service shall separately or jointly issue regulations for the enforcement of the
rights set forth in section 1308 with respect to importation. Such regulations
may require, as a condition for the exclusion of articles from the United
States, that the person seeking exclusion take any one or more of the following
actions:
(1) Obtain a court order enjoining, or an order of the International Trade
Commission under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 excluding, importation of
the articles.
(2) Furnish proof that the design involved is protected under this chapter
and that the importation of the articles would infringe the rights in the design
under this chapter.
(3) Post a surety bond for any injury that may result if the detention or
exclusion of the articles proves to be unjustified.
(b) SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE- Articles imported in violation of the rights
set forth in section 1308 are subject to seizure and forfeiture in the same
manner as property imported in violation of the customs laws. Any such forfeited
articles shall be destroyed as directed by the Secretary of the Treasury or the
court, as the case may be, except that the articles may be returned to the
country of export whenever it is shown to the satisfaction of the Secretary of
the Treasury that the importer had no reasonable grounds for believing that his
or her acts constituted a violation of the law.
Sec. 1329. Relation to design patent law
The issuance of a design patent under title 35, United States Code, for an
original design for an article of manufacture shall terminate any protection of
the original design under this chapter.
Sec. 1330. Common law and other rights unaffected
Nothing in this chapter shall annul or limit--
(1) common law or other rights or remedies, if any, available to or held by
any person with respect to a design which has not been registered under this
chapter; or
(2) any right under the trademark laws or any right protected against
unfair competition.
Sec. 1331. Administrator; Office of the Administrator
In this chapter, the `Administrator' is the Register of Copyrights, and the
`Office of the Administrator' and the `Office' refer to the Copyright Office of
the Library of Congress.
Sec. 1332. No retroactive effect
Protection under this chapter shall not be available for any design that
has been made public under section 1310(b) before the effective date of this
chapter.
SEC. 503. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) TABLE OF CHAPTERS- The table of chapters for title 17, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
1301.
(b) JURISDICTION OF DISTRICT COURTS OVER DESIGN ACTIONS- (1) Section 1338(c)
of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting `, and to exclusive
rights in designs under chapter 13 of title 17,' after `title 17'.
(2)(A) The section heading for section 1338 of title 28, United States Code,
is amended by inserting `designs,' after `mask works,'.
(B) The item relating to section 1338 in the table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 85 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting
`designs,' after `mask works,'.
(c) PLACE FOR BRINGING DESIGN ACTIONS- (1) Section 1400(a) of title 28,
United States Code, is amended by inserting `or designs' after `mask
works'.
(2) The section heading for section 1400 of title 28, United States Code, is
amended to read as follows:
`Patents and copyrights, mask works, and designs'.
(3) The item relating to section 1400 in the table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 87 of title 28, United States Code, is amended to read as
follows:
1400. Patents and copyrights, mask works, and designs..
(d) ACTIONS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES- Section 1498(e) of title 28, United
States Code, is amended by inserting `, and to exclusive rights in designs under
chapter 13 of title 17,' after `title 17'.
SEC. 504. JOINT STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF THIS TITLE.
(a) IN GENERAL- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of
this Act, and not later than 2 years after such date of enactment, the Register
of Copyrights and the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks shall submit to the
Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives a
joint report evaluating the effect of the amendments made by this title.
(b) ELEMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION- In carrying out subsection (a), the Register
of Copyrights and the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks shall
consider--
(1) the extent to which the amendments made by this title has been effective
in suppressing infringement of the design of vessel hulls;
(2) the extent to which the registration provided for in chapter 13 of title
17, United States Code, as added by this title, has been utilized;
(3) the extent to which the creation of new designs of vessel hulls have
been encouraged by the amendments made by this title;
(4) the effect, if any, of the amendments made by this title on the price of
vessels with hulls protected under such amendments; and
(5) such other considerations as the Register and the Commissioner may deem
relevant to accomplish the purposes of the evaluation conducted under subsection
(a).
SEC. 505. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by sections 502 and 503 shall take effect on the date of
the enactment of this Act and shall remain in effect until the end of the 2-year
period beginning on such date of enactment. No cause of action based on chapter
13 of title 17, United States Code, as added by this title, may be filed after
the end of that 2-year period.
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