Notice of Intent To Audit

AGENCY:

Copyright Office, Library of Congress.

ACTION:

Public notice.

SUMMARY:

The Copyright Office of the Library of Congress is announcing receipt of eleven notices of intent to audit eligible nonsubscription and new subscription services that transmit sound recordings under statutory licenses. The audits intend to verify statements of account for the years 2002, 2003, and 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tanya M. Sandros, Associate General Counsel, or Gina Giuffreda, Attorney-Advisor, Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (CARP), P.O. Box 70977, Southwest Station, Washington, DC 20024-0977. Telephone: (202) 707-8380. Telefax: (202) 252-3423.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 106(6) of the Copyright Act, title 17 of the United States Code, gives the copyright owner of a sound recording the right to perform the sound recording publicly by means of a digital audio transmission, subject to certain limitations. Among these limitations are certain exemptions and a statutory license which allows for the public performance of sound recordings as part of “eligible nonsubscription transmissions” and digital transmissions made by “new subscription services.” 17 U.S.C. 114. Moreover, these services may make any necessary ephemeral reproductions to facilitate the digital transmission of the sound recording under a second license set forth in section 112(e) of the Copyright Act. Use of these licenses requires that services make payments of royalty fees to and file reports of sound recording performances with SoundExchange. SoundExchange is a collecting rights entity that was designated by the Librarian of Congress to collect statements of account and royalty fee payments from services and distribute the royalty fees to copyright owners and performers entitled to receive such royalties under sections 112(e) and 114(g) following a proceeding before a Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (“CARP”)—the entity responsible for setting rates and terms for use of the section 112 and section 114 licenses prior to the passage of the Copyright Royalty and Distribution Reform Act of 2004 (“CRDRA”), Public Law No. 108-419, 118 Stat. 2341.

This Act, which the President signed into law on November 30, 2004, and which became effective on May 31, 2005, amends the Copyright Act, title 17 of the United States Code, by phasing out the CARP system and replacing it with three permanent Copyright Royalty Judges (“CRJs”). Consequently, the CRJs will carry out the functions heretofore performed by the CARPs, including the adjustment of rates and terms for certain statutory licenses such as the section 114 and 112 licenses. However, section 6(b)(3) of the Act states in pertinent part:

[t]he rates and terms in effect under section 114(f)(2) or 112(e) * * * on December 30, 2004, for new subscription services [and] eligible nonsubscription services * * * shall remain in effect until the later of the first applicable effective date for successor terms and rates * * * or such later date as the parties may agree or the Copyright Royalty Judges may establish.

Successor rates and terms for these licenses have not yet been established. Accordingly, the terms of the section 114 and 112 licenses, as currently constituted, are still in effect.

One of the current terms, set forth in § 262.6 of title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations, states that SoundExchange, as the Designated Agent, may conduct a single audit of a Licensee for the purpose of verifying their royalty payments. As a preliminary matter, the Designated Agent is required to submit a notice of its intent to audit a Licensee with the Copyright Office and serve this notice on the service to be audited. 37 CFR 262.6(c).

On December 23, 2005, SoundExchange filed with the Copyright Office eleven notices of intent to audit the following eligible nonsubscription and new subscription services for the years 2002, 2003, and 2004: Bonneville International Corporation; Susquehanna Radio Corp.; RealNetworks, Inc.; Clear Channel Communications, Inc.; America Online, Inc.; Beethoven Radio; MTV Networks; Microsoft Corporation; Live365, Inc.; Cox Radio Interactive; and Yahoo!, Inc. As stated in § 262.6(c), the Copyright Office then is required to publish a notice in the Federal Register within thirty days of receipt of the filing announcing the Designated Agent's intent to conduct an audit.

In accordance with this regulation, the Office is publishing today's notice to fulfill this requirement with respect to SoundExchange's eleven notices of intent to audit identified herein.