CO Seeks June, July Stakeholder Meetings on Planned Section 108 Revamp Legislative Recommendation

The Copyright Office on Tuesday sought meetings with stakeholders in advance of a planned legislative recommendation on potential revisions to Copyright Act Section 108 to update to account for the digital age the statute's conditional exemption allowing libraries and archives to reproduce and distribute copyrighted works, including musical works and motion pictures. The CO has been exploring potential updates to Section 108 since 2005 and a Library of Congress representative was one of several who urged the House IP Subcommittee in 2014 to revamp Section 108 (see report in the April 3, 2014, issue). The CO said in a notice in the Federal Register it's seeking to hold the meetings in Washington from later this month into July. The CO is exploring “several remaining issues,” including whether to recommend the Section 108 exemption include public performances and displays, provisions concerning copies for users, security measures, public access and third-party outsourcing, the office said. Stakeholders must schedule meetings by July 7, the CO said.