[105th Congress Public Law 298]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
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[DOCID: f:publ298.105]
[[Page 112 STAT. 2827]]
Public Law 105-298
105th Congress
An Act
To amend the provisions of title 17, United States Code, with respect to
the duration of copyright, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Oct. 27,
1998 - [S. 505]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
TITLE I-- <<NOTE: Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act.>> COPYRIGHT
TERM EXTENSION
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. <<NOTE: 17 USC 101 note.>>
This title may be referred to as the ``Sonny Bono Copyright Term
Extension Act''.
SEC. 102. DURATION OF COPYRIGHT PROVISIONS.
(a) Preemption With Respect to Other Laws.--Section 301(c) of title
17, United States Code, is amended by striking ``February 15, 2047''
each place it appears and inserting ``February 15, 2067''.
(b) Duration of Copyright: Works Created on or After January 1,
1978.--Section 302 of title 17, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a) by striking ``fifty'' and inserting
``70'';
(2) in subsection (b) by striking ``fifty'' and inserting
``70'';
(3) in subsection (c) in the first sentence--
(A) by striking ``seventy-five'' and inserting
``95''; and
(B) by striking ``one hundred'' and inserting
``120''; and
(4) in subsection (e) in the first sentence--
(A) by striking ``seventy-five'' and inserting
``95'';
(B) by striking ``one hundred'' and inserting
``120''; and
(C) by striking ``fifty'' each place it appears and
inserting ``70''.
(c) Duration of Copyright: Works Created but Not Published or
Copyrighted Before January 1, 1978.--Section 303 of title 17, United
States Code, is amended in the second sentence by striking ``December
31, 2027'' and inserting ``December 31, 2047''.
(d) Duration of Copyright: Subsisting Copyrights.--
(1) In general.--Section 304 of title 17, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) in paragraph (1)--
(I) in subparagraph (B) by striking
``47'' and inserting ``67''; and
(II) in subparagraph (C) by striking
``47'' and inserting ``67'';
[[Page 112 STAT. 2828]]
(ii) in paragraph (2)--
(I) in subparagraph (A) by striking
``47'' and inserting ``67''; and
(II) in subparagraph (B) by striking
``47'' and inserting ``67''; and
(iii) in paragraph (3)--
(I) in subparagraph (A)(i) by
striking ``47'' and inserting ``67'';
and
(II) in subparagraph (B) by striking
``47'' and inserting ``67'';
(B) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
``(b) Copyrights in Their Renewal Term at the Time of the Effective
Date of the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act.--Any copyright
still in its renewal term at the time that the Sonny Bono Copyright Term
Extension Act becomes effective shall have a copyright term of 95 years
from the date copyright was originally secured.'';
(C) in subsection (c)(4)(A) in the first sentence by
inserting ``or, in the case of a termination under
subsection (d), within the five-year period specified by
subsection (d)(2),'' after ``specified by clause (3) of
this subsection,''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(d) Termination Rights Provided in Subsection (c) Which Have
Expired on or Before the Effective Date of the Sonny Bono Copyright Term
Extension Act.--In the case of any copyright other than a work made for
hire, subsisting in its renewal term on the effective date of the Sonny
Bono Copyright Term Extension Act for which the termination right
provided in subsection (c) has expired by such date, where the author or
owner of the termination right has not previously exercised such
termination right, the exclusive or nonexclusive grant of a transfer or
license of the renewal copyright or any right under it, executed before
January 1, 1978, by any of the persons designated in subsection
(a)(1)(C) of this section, other than by will, is subject to termination
under the following conditions:
``(1) The conditions specified in subsections (c) (1), (2),
(4), (5), and (6) of this section apply to terminations of the
last 20 years of copyright term as provided by the amendments
made by the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act.
``(2) Termination of the grant may be effected at any time
during a period of 5 years beginning at the end of 75 years from
the date copyright was originally secured.''.
(2) Copyright amendments act of 1992.--Section 102 of the
Copyright Amendments Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-307; 106 Stat.
266; 17 U.S.C. 304 note) is amended--
(A) in subsection (c)--
(i) by striking ``47'' and inserting ``67'';
(ii) by striking ``(as amended by subsection
(a) of this section)''; and
(iii) by striking ``effective date of this
section'' each place it appears and inserting
``effective date of the Sonny Bono Copyright Term
Extension Act''; and
(B) <<NOTE: 17 USC 101 note.>> in subsection (g)(2)
in the second sentence by inserting before the period
the following: ``, except each reference to forty-seven
years in such provisions shall be deemed to be 67
years''.
[[Page 112 STAT. 2829]]
SEC. 103. TERMINATION OF TRANSFERS AND LICENSES COVERING EXTENDED
RENEWAL TERM.
Sections 203(a)(2) and 304(c)(2) of title 17, United States Code,
are each amended--
(1) by striking ``by his widow or her widower and his or her
children or grandchildren''; and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
``(D) In the event that the author's widow or
widower, children, and grandchildren are not living, the
author's executor, administrator, personal
representative, or trustee shall own the author's entire
termination interest.''.
SEC. 104. REPRODUCTION BY LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES.
Section 108 of title 17, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
``(h)(1) For purposes of this section, during the last 20 years of
any term of copyright of a published work, a library or archives,
including a nonprofit educational institution that functions as such,
may reproduce, distribute, display, or perform in facsimile or digital
form a copy or phonorecord of such work, or portions thereof, for
purposes of preservation, scholarship, or research, if such library or
archives has first determined, on the basis of a reasonable
investigation, that none of the conditions set forth in subparagraphs
(A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (2) apply.
``(2) No reproduction, distribution, display, or performance is
authorized under this subsection if--
``(A) the work is subject to normal commercial exploitation;
``(B) a copy or phonorecord of the work can be obtained at a
reasonable price; or
``(C) the copyright owner or its agent provides notice
pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Register of
Copyrights that either of the conditions set forth in
subparagraphs (A) and (B) applies.
``(3) The exemption provided in this subsection does not apply to
any subsequent uses by users other than such library or archives.''.
SEC. 105. VOLUNTARY NEGOTIATION REGARDING DIVISION OF ROYALTIES.
It is the sense of the Congress that copyright owners of audiovisual
works for which the term of copyright protection is extended by the
amendments made by this title, and the screenwriters, directors, and
performers of those audiovisual works, should negotiate in good faith in
an effort to reach a voluntary agreement or voluntary agreements with
respect to the establishment of a fund or other mechanism for the amount
of remuneration to be divided among the parties for the exploitation of
those audiovisual works.
SEC. 106. <<NOTE: 17 USC 108 note.>> EFFECTIVE DATE.
This title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect
on the date of the enactment of this Act.
[[Page 112 STAT. 2830]]
TITLE II--MUSIC <<NOTE: Fairness In Music Licensing Act of
1998.>> LICENSING EXEMPTION FOR FOOD SERVICE OR DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS
SEC. 201. <<NOTE: 17 USC 101 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Fairness In Music Licensing Act of
1998''.
SEC. 202. EXEMPTIONS.
(a) Exemptions for Certain Establishments.--Section 110 of title 17,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (5)--
(A) by striking ``(5)'' and inserting ``(5)(A)
except as provided in subparagraph (B),''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) communication by an establishment of a
transmission or retransmission embodying a performance
or display of a nondramatic musical work intended to be
received by the general public, originated by a radio or
television broadcast station licensed as such by the
Federal Communications Commission, or, if an audiovisual
transmission, by a cable system or satellite carrier,
if--
``(i) in the case of an establishment other
than a food service or drinking establishment,
either the establishment in which the
communication occurs has less than 2,000 gross
square feet of space (excluding space used for
customer parking and for no other purpose), or the
establishment in which the communication occurs
has 2,000 or more gross square feet of space
(excluding space used for customer parking and for
no other purpose) and--
``(I) if the performance is by audio
means only, the performance is
communicated by means of a total of not
more than 6 loudspeakers, of which not
more than 4 loudspeakers are located in
any 1 room or adjoining outdoor space;
or
``(II) if the performance or display
is by audiovisual means, any visual
portion of the performance or display is
communicated by means of a total of not
more than 4 audiovisual devices, of
which not more than 1 audiovisual device
is located in any 1 room, and no such
audiovisual device has a diagonal screen
size greater than 55 inches, and any
audio portion of the performance or
display is communicated by means of a
total of not more than 6 loudspeakers,
of which not more than 4 loudspeakers
are located in any 1 room or adjoining
outdoor space;
``(ii) in the case of a food service or
drinking establishment, either the establishment
in which the communication occurs has less than
3,750 gross square feet of space (excluding space
used for customer parking and for no other
purpose), or the establishment in which the
communication occurs has 3,750 gross
[[Page 112 STAT. 2831]]
square feet of space or more (excluding space used
for customer parking and for no other purpose)
and--
``(I) if the performance is by audio
means only, the performance is
communicated by means of a total of not
more than 6 loudspeakers, of which not
more than 4 loudspeakers are located in
any 1 room or adjoining outdoor space;
or
``(II) if the performance or display
is by audiovisual means, any visual
portion of the performance or display is
communicated by means of a total of not
more than 4 audiovisual devices, of
which not more than one audiovisual
device is located in any 1 room, and no
such audiovisual device has a diagonal
screen size greater than 55 inches, and
any audio portion of the performance or
display is communicated by means of a
total of not more than 6 loudspeakers,
of which not more than 4 loudspeakers
are located in any 1 room or adjoining
outdoor space;
``(iii) no direct charge is made to see or
hear the transmission or retransmission;
``(iv) the transmission or retransmission is
not further transmitted beyond the establishment
where it is received; and
``(v) the transmission or retransmission is
licensed by the copyright owner of the work so
publicly performed or displayed;''; and
(2) by adding after paragraph (10) the following:
``The exemptions provided under paragraph (5) shall not be taken into
account in any administrative, judicial, or other governmental
proceeding to set or adjust the royalties payable to copyright owners
for the public performance or display of their works. Royalties payable
to copyright owners for any public performance or display of their works
other than such performances or displays as are exempted under paragraph
(5) shall not be diminished in any respect as a result of such
exemption.''.
(b) Exemption Relating to Promotion.--Section 110(7) of title 17,
United States Code, is amended by inserting ``or of the audiovisual or
other devices utilized in such performance,'' after ``phonorecords of
the work,''.
SEC. 203. LICENSING BY PERFORMING RIGHTS SOCIETIES.
(a) In General.--Chapter 5 of title 17, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 512. Determination of reasonable license fees for
individual proprietors
``In the case of any performing rights society subject to a consent
decree which provides for the determination of reasonable license rates
or fees to be charged by the performing rights society, notwithstanding
the provisions of that consent decree, an individual proprietor who owns
or operates fewer than 7 non-publicly traded establishments in which
nondramatic musical works are performed publicly and who claims that any
license agreement offered by that performing rights society is
unreasonable in its license rate or fee as to that individual
proprietor, shall be entitled to determination of a reasonable license
rate or fee as follows:
[[Page 112 STAT. 2832]]
``(1) The individual proprietor may commence such proceeding
for determination of a reasonable license rate or fee by filing
an application in the applicable district court under paragraph
(2) that a rate disagreement exists and by serving a copy of the
application on the performing rights society. Such proceeding
shall commence in the applicable district court within 90 days
after the service of such copy, except that such 90-day
requirement shall be subject to the administrative requirements
of the court.
``(2) The proceeding under paragraph (1) shall be held, at
the individual proprietor's election, in the judicial district
of the district court with jurisdiction over the applicable
consent decree or in that place of holding court of a district
court that is the seat of the Federal circuit (other than the
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) in which the
proprietor's establishment is located.
``(3) Such proceeding shall be held before the judge of the
court with jurisdiction over the consent decree governing the
performing rights society. At the discretion of the court, the
proceeding shall be held before a special master or magistrate
judge appointed by such judge. Should that consent decree
provide for the appointment of an advisor or advisors to the
court for any purpose, any such advisor shall be the special
master so named by the court.
``(4) In any such proceeding, the industry rate shall be
presumed to have been reasonable at the time it was agreed to or
determined by the court. Such presumption shall in no way affect
a determination of whether the rate is being correctly applied
to the individual proprietor.
``(5) Pending the completion of such proceeding, the
individual proprietor shall have the right to perform publicly
the copyrighted musical compositions in the repertoire of the
performing rights society by paying an interim license rate or
fee into an interest bearing escrow account with the clerk of
the court, subject to retroactive adjustment when a final rate
or fee has been determined, in an amount equal to the industry
rate, or, in the absence of an industry rate, the amount of the
most recent license rate or fee agreed to by the parties.
``(6) Any decision rendered in such proceeding by a special
master or magistrate judge named under paragraph (3) shall be
reviewed by the judge of the court with jurisdiction over the
consent decree governing the performing rights society. Such
proceeding, including such review, shall be concluded within 6
months after its commencement.
``(7) Any such final determination shall be binding only as
to the individual proprietor commencing the proceeding, and
shall not be applicable to any other proprietor or any other
performing rights society, and the performing rights society
shall be relieved of any obligation of nondiscrimination among
similarly situated music users that may be imposed by the
consent decree governing its operations.
``(8) An individual proprietor may not bring more than one
proceeding provided for in this section for the determination of
a reasonable license rate or fee under any license agreement
with respect to any one performing rights society.
``(9) For purposes of this section, the term `industry rate'
means the license fee a performing rights society has agreed
[[Page 112 STAT. 2833]]
to with, or which has been determined by the court for, a
significant segment of the music user industry to which the
individual proprietor belongs.''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for
chapter 5 of title 17, United States Code, is amended by adding after
the item relating to section 511 the following:
``512. Determination of reasonable license fees for individual
proprietors.''.
SEC. 204. PENALTIES.
Section 504 of title 17, United States Code, is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(d) Additional Damages in Certain Cases.--In any case in which the
court finds that a defendant proprietor of an establishment who claims
as a defense that its activities were exempt under section 110(5) did
not have reasonable grounds to believe that its use of a copyrighted
work was exempt under such section, the plaintiff shall be entitled to,
in addition to any award of damages under this section, an additional
award of two times the amount of the license fee that the proprietor of
the establishment concerned should have paid the plaintiff for such use
during the preceding period of up to 3 years.''.
SEC. 205. DEFINITIONS.
Section 101 of title 17, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by inserting after the definition of ``display'' the
following:
``An `establishment' is a store, shop, or any similar place
of business open to the general public for the primary purpose
of selling goods or services in which the majority of the gross
square feet of space that is nonresidential is used for that
purpose, and in which nondramatic musical works are performed
publicly.
``A `food service or drinking establishment' is a
restaurant, inn, bar, tavern, or any other similar place of
business in which the public or patrons assemble for the primary
purpose of being served food or drink, in which the majority of
the gross square feet of space that is nonresidential is used
for that purpose, and in which nondramatic musical works are
performed publicly.'';
(2) by inserting after the definition of ``fixed'' the
following:
``The `gross square feet of space' of an establishment means
the entire interior space of that establishment, and any
adjoining outdoor space used to serve patrons, whether on a
seasonal basis or otherwise.'';
(3) by inserting after the definition of ``perform'' the
following:
``A `performing rights society' is an association,
corporation, or other entity that licenses the public
performance of nondramatic musical works on behalf of copyright
owners of such works, such as the American Society of Composers,
Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), and
SESAC, Inc.''; and
(4) by inserting after the definition of ``pictorial,
graphic and sculptural works'' the following:
``A `proprietor' is an individual, corporation, partnership,
or other entity, as the case may be, that owns an establishment
or a food service or drinking establishment, except that no
[[Page 112 STAT. 2834]]
owner or operator of a radio or television station licensed by
the Federal Communications Commission, cable system or satellite
carrier, cable or satellite carrier service or programmer,
provider of online services or network access or the operator of
facilities therefor, telecommunications company, or any other
such audio or audiovisual service or programmer now known or as
may be developed in the future, commercial subscription music
service, or owner or operator of any other transmission service,
shall under any circumstances be deemed to be a proprietor.''.
SEC. 206. <<NOTE: 17 USC 101 note.>> CONSTRUCTION OF TITLE.
Except as otherwise provided in this title, nothing in this title
shall be construed to relieve any performing rights society of any
obligation under any State or local statute, ordinance, or law, or
consent decree or other court order governing its operation, as such
statute, ordinance, law, decree, or order is in effect on the date of
the enactment of this Act, as it may be amended after such date, or as
it may be issued or agreed to after such date.
SEC. 207. <<NOTE: 17 USC 101 note.>> EFFECTIVE DATE.
This title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect
90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Approved October 27, 1998.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 505 (H.R. 2589):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 105-452 accompanying H.R. 2589 (Comm. on the
Judiciary).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 144 (1998):
Oct. 7, considered and passed House and Senate.
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