Modernizing Document Recordation
The U.S. Copyright Office is proposing to amend its regulations concerning the recordation of transfers of copyright ownership and other documents pertaining to a copyright under 17 U.S.C. § 205, and notices of termination under sections 203, 304(c), and 304(d).
The current recordation process is a time-consuming and labor-intensive paper-based one, requiring remitters to submit their documents in hard copy. The proposed amendments are designed to update the Office’s current regulations in anticipation of the development of a new electronic recordation system. Though the Office cannot currently estimate how long it will take to complete the new system, the Office is seeking public comments at this time because the Office must, at present, make a number of policy decisions critical to the design of the to-be-developed system. In addition, at least some of the regulatory improvements could be implemented in the near future as part of an interim rule, prior to the rollout of the new system.
Written comments must be received no later than July 17, 2017, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.
