Senate votes to clean up federal copyright laws

The Senate unanimously approved legislation Monday night to clarify federal copyright laws.

The Copyright Cleanup, Clarification and Corrections Act, introduced Monday by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and ranking member Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), implements several recommendations from the Copyright Office to make the agency's operations more efficient. The bill also clarifies aspects of copyright law that are either ambiguous or have been made unclear by recent court decisions.

"Today’s legislation makes common-sense improvements to the copyright system that will make it more efficient," Leahy said. "Congress should work in a bipartisan fashion to find inefficiencies and correct them. We are doing that today.”

The bill includes rule changes that will make it easier for the Copyright Office to transition to digital recordkeeping and allow filers to submit documents electronically. It also asserts that dramatic or literary works were not "published" when included on a record album, allowing their original owners to retain their rights. Other changes clarify aspects of the law or correct technicalities that hamper the agency's effectiveness.

“Creators of intellectual work need assurances about their artistic rights, and it’s important that our laws take into account modern technology," Sessions said. "Among other things, this bill will assist the U.S. Copyright Office’s transition to digital recordkeeping. It also clarifies important principles of copyright ownership that have become clouded by recent court rulings and creates a clear mechanism for judicial review of rulemakings by copyright royalty judges."

Both lawmakers expressed their hope that the House would take up the issue quickly.