New Copyright Rules on Acquisition of Unpublished Transmission by the LOC

This final rule amends the Copyright Office regulations governing recording by the Library of Congress of unpublished transmission programs that have been fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Under the final rule, the Library may make a recording of unpublished radio, television, satellite, cable, and Internet transmission programs that have been fixed prior to or simultaneously with transmission. The copyright owner may then use the Library's recorded copy or phonorecord to satisfy the deposit requirement to register a copyright claim in the transmission program. The final rule also requires the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division to post on its website a list of transmission programs that it has recorded pursuant to this regulation.