U.S. Copyright Office NewsNet, Issue 47, May 18, 1999

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U.S. Copyright Office
NewsNet

May 18, 1999
Issue 47
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CONTENTS

* Legislative News *

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* LEGISLATIVE NEWS *

H.R. 1761 WOULD INCREASE STATUTORY DAMAGES

The Copyright Damages Improvement Act of 1999, H.R. 1761, was introduced May 11 by Rep. James Rogan (D-Calif.). Cosponsor is Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C.), chairman of the House Intellectual Property Subcommittee, to which the bill was referred. The bill would increase the statutory damages available to copyright owners whose works are infringed; it would also add a new tier of damages that targets parties that have engaged in a "repeated pattern or practice of infringement." Finally, it contains language to prevent offenders from declaring bankruptcy to avoid paying a copyright infringement judgment against them.
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* CALENDAR *

May 17: Copyright Office study on promotion of distance education
through digital technologies delivered to Congress. The report should be available within a week on the Copyright Office Website.

June 10: Effective date of final regulations prescribing how CARP arbitrators shall be reimbursed for their services (64 FR 25201)

July 1: Proposed date for Copyright Office fee increase (See NewsNet Issue 45)

July 6: Due date for comments on notices of intent to participate in distribution of royalty fees in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998 Musical Works Funds (64 FR 23875)

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