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To view or print individual sections, please go to the Regulations page.

Title 37: Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights

§ 255.1 General.

This part 255 adjusts the rates of royalties payable under the compulsory license for making and distributing phonorecords, including digital phonorecord deliveries, embodying nondramatic musical works, under 17 U.S.C. 115.

[60 FR 61657, Dec. 1, 1995]

§ 255.2 Royalty payable under compulsory license.

With respect to each work embodied in the phonorecord, the royalty payable shall be either four cents, or three-quarters of one cent per minute of playing time or fraction thereof, whichever amount is larger, for every phonorecord made and distributed on or after July 1, 1981, subject to adjustment pursuant to §255.3.

[46 FR 891, Jan. 5, 1981, as amended at 46 FR 62268, Dec. 23, 1981. Redesignated and amended at 59 FR 23993, May 9, 1994]

§ 255.3 Adjustment of royalty rate.

(a) For every phonorecord made and distributed on or after January 1, 1983, the royalty rate payable with respect to each work embodied in the phonorecord shall be either 4.25 cents, or 0.8 cent per minute of playing time or fraction thereof, whichever amount is larger, subject to further adjustment pursuant to paragraphs (b) through (m) of this section.

(b) For every phonorecord made and distributed on or after July 1, 1984, the royalty rate payable with respect to each work embodied in the phonorecord shall be either 4.5 cents, or 0.85 cent per minute of playing time or fraction thereof, whichever amount is larger, subject to further adjustment pursuant to paragraphs (c) through (m) of this section.

(c) For every phonorecord made and distributed on or after January 1, 1986, the royalty rate payable with respect to each work embodied in the phonorecord shall be either 5.0 cents, or 0.95 cent per minute of playing time or fraction thereof, whichever amount is larger, subject to further adjustment pursuant to paragraphs (d) through (m) of this section.

(d) For every phonorecord made and distributed on or after January 1, 1988, the royalty rate payable with respect to each work embodied in the phonorecord shall be either 5.25 cents, or 1.0 cent per minute of playing time or fraction thereof, whichever amount is larger, subject to further adjustment pursuant to paragraphs (e) through (m) of this section.

(e) For every phonorecord made and distributed on or after January 1, 1990, the royalty rate payable with respect to each work embodied in the phonorecord shall be either 5.7 cents, or 1.1 cents per minute of playing time or fraction thereof, whichever amount is larger, subject to further adjustment pursuant to paragraphs (f) through (m) of this section.

(f) For every phonorecord made and distributed on or after January 1, 1992, the royalty rate payable with respect to each work embodied in the phonorecord shall be either 6.25 cents, or 1.2 cents per minute of playing time or fraction thereof, whichever amount is larger, subject to further adjustment pursuant to paragraphs (g) through (m) of this section.

(g) For every phonorecord made and distributed on or after January 1, 1994, the royalty rate payable with respect to each work embodied in the phonorecord shall be either 6.6 cents, or 1.25 cents per minute of playing time or fraction thereof, whichever amount is larger, subject to further adjustment pursuant to paragraphs (h) through (m) of this section.

(h) For every phonorecord made and distributed on or after January 1, 1996, the royalty rate payable with respect to each work embodied in the phonorecord shall be either 6.95 cents, or 1.3 cents per minute of playing time or fraction thereof, whichever amount is larger, subject to further adjustment pursuant to paragraphs (i) through (m) of this section.

(i) For every phonorecord made and distributed on or after January 1, 1998, the royalty rate payable with respect to each work embodied in the phonorecord shall be either 7.1 cents, or 1.35 cents per minute of playing time or fraction thereof, whichever amount is larger, subject to further adjustment pursuant to paragraphs (j) through (m) of this section.

(j) For every phonorecord made and distributed on or after January 1, 2000, the royalty rate payable with respect to each work embodied in the phonorecord shall be either 7.55 cents, or 1.45 cents per minute of playing time or fraction thereof, whichever amount is larger, subject to further adjustment pursuant to paragraphs (k) through (m) of this section.

(k) For every phonorecord made and distributed on or after January 1, 2002, the royalty rate payable with respect to each work embodied in the phonorecord shall be either 8.0 cents, or 1.55 cents per minute of playing time or fraction thereof, whichever amount is larger, subject to further adjustment pursuant to paragraphs (l) through (m) of this section.

(l) For every phonorecord made and distributed on or after January 1, 2004, the royalty rate payable with respect to each work embodied in the phonorecord shall be either 8.5 cents, or 1.65 cents per minute of playing time or fraction thereof, whichever amount is larger, subject to further adjustment pursuant to paragraph (m) of this section.

(m) For every phonorecord made and distributed on or after January 1, 2006, the royalty rate payable with respect to each work embodied in the phonorecord shall be either 9.1 cents, or 1.75 cents per minute of playing time or fraction thereof, whichever amount is larger.

[60 FR 55459, Nov. 1, 1995, as amended at 63 FR 7289, Feb. 13, 1998]

§ 255.4 Definition of digital phonorecord delivery.

A “ digital phonorecord delivery ” is each individual delivery of a phonorecord by digital transmission of a sound recording which results in a specifically identifiable reproduction by or for any transmission recipient of a phonorecord of that sound recording, regardless of whether the digital transmission is also a public performance of the sound recording or any nondramatic musical work embodied therein. The reproduction of the phonorecord must be sufficiently permanent or stable to permit it to be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated for a period of more than transitory duration. Such a phonorecord may be permanent or it may be made available to the transmission recipient for a limited period of time or for a specified number of performances. A digital phonorecord delivery includes all phonorecords that are made for the purpose of making the digital phonorecord delivery.

[73 FR 66182, Nov. 7, 2008]

§ 255.5 Royalty rate for digital phonorecord deliveries in general.

(a) For every digital phonorecord delivery made on or before December 31, 1997, the royalty rate payable with respect to each work embodied in the phonorecord shall be either 6.95 cents, or 1.3 cents per minute of playing time or fraction thereof, whichever amount is larger.

(b) For every digital phonorecord delivery made on or after January 1, 1998, except for digital phonorecord deliveries where the reproduction or distribution of a phonorecord is incidental to the transmission which constitutes the digital phonorecord delivery, as specified in 17 U.S.C. 115(c)(3)(C) and (D), the royalty rate payable with respect to each work embodied in the phonorecord shall be the royalty rate prescribed in §255.3 for the making and distribution of a phonorecord made and distributed on the date of the digital phonorecord delivery (the “Physical Rate”). In any future proceeding under 17 U.S.C. 115(c)(3)(C) or (D), the royalty rates payable for a compulsory license for digital phonorecord deliveries in general shall be established de novo, and no precedential effect shall be given to the royalty rate payable under this paragraph for any period prior to the period as to which the royalty rates are to be established in such future proceeding.

[64 FR 6223, Feb. 9, 1999]

§ 255.6 Royalty rate for incidental digital phonorecord deliveries.

The royalty rate for digital phonorecord deliveries where the reproduction or distribution of a phonorecord is incidental to the transmission which constitutes a digital phonorecord delivery, as specified in 17 U.S.C. 115(c)(3)(C) and (D), is deferred for consideration until the next digital phonorecord delivery rate adjustment proceeding pursuant to the schedule set forth in §255.7; provided, however, that any owner or user of a copyrighted work with a significant interest in such royalty rate, as provided in 17 U.S.C. 803(a)(1), may petition the Librarian of Congress to establish a rate prior to the commencement of the next digital phonorecord delivery rate adjustment proceeding. In the event such a petition is filed, the Librarian of Congress shall proceed in accordance with 17 U.S.C. 115(c)(3)(D), and all applicable regulations, as though the petition had been filed in accordance with 17 U.S.C. 803(a)(1).

[64 FR 6223, Feb. 9, 1999]

§ 255.7 Future proceedings.

The procedures specified in 17 U.S.C. 115(c)(3)(C) shall be repeated in 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2006 so as to determine the applicable rates and terms for the making of digital phonorecord deliveries during the periods beginning January 1, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2008. The procedures specified in 17 U.S.C. 115(c)(3)(D) shall be repeated, in the absence of license agreements negotiated under 17 U.S.C. 115(c)(3)(B) and (C), upon the filing of a petition in accordance with 17 U.S.C. 803(a)(1), in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2007 so as to determine new rates and terms for the making of digital phonorecord deliveries during the periods beginning January 1, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2008. Thereafter, the procedures specified in 17 U.S.C. 115(c)(3)(C) and (D) shall be repeated in each fifth calendar year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, different years for the repeating of such proceedings may be determined in accordance with 17 U.S.C. 115(c)(3)(C) and (D).

[64 FR 6223, Feb. 9, 1999]

§ 255.8 Public performances of sound recordings and musical works.

Nothing in this part annuls or limits the exclusive right to publicly perform a sound recording or the musical work embodied therein, including by means of a digital transmission, under 17 U.S.C. 106(4) and 106(6).

[64 FR 6223, Feb. 9, 1999]

Source: GPO Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) (www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr/)
Data current as of September 16, 2010.