In the twenty-first century, differences in the treatment of trade in alcoholic beverages in comparison to other commercial goods seem at odds with the federal regulation of interstate trade under the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution, which prohibits "differential treatment of in-state and out-of-state economic interests that…

This report accompanies H.R. 897, the Copyright Reform Act of 1993. The bill, intended to amend title 17, United States Code, to modify certain recordation and registration requirements, to establish copyright arbitration royalty panels to replace the Copyright Royalty Tribunal, and for other purposes, is favorably reported by the Committee on the…

This document comprises a copy of a bill (S. 1270) and transcripts of hearings held in the U.S. Senate to amend Title 17, United States Code, regarding the Copyright Royalty Tribunal (CRT). An opening statement by Senator Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, the text of comments and materials submitted by R.E. Turner of the Turner Broadcasting System,…

Explains United States copyright law as it concerns the use of photocopies, audiovisual materials, and computer software, with emphasis on new technologies, the gray areas in knowledge about copyrights. (SKC)

The House Committee on the Judiciary reports favorably on a proposed amendment to a bill (H.R. 4412) to amend Title 17 of the U.S. Code relating to fair use of copyrighted works. The committee recommends passage of the bill to the effect that Section 107 of Title 17 be amended by adding at the end the following: "The fact that a work is…

A new interpretation of the Copyright Clause of the Constitution supports the claim that it is unconstitutional for: (1) Congress to permit copyright by federal contractors on works commissioned by federal contract for compensation, and (2) the Copyright Office to register a copyright application from such a federal contractor. (Author/CLB)

In order to prevent trainers from running afoul of federal and state laws and regulations when setting up a training program, the author presents specific issues of importance to trainers. These concern copyright, idea ownership, comparable worth, access to training, and privacy. (CT)

Statements and testimony from four major and eight additional witnesses comprise these 1981 hearings. David Ladd, Register of Copyrights and Associate Librarian for Copyright Services, reports on the functions and administrative operations of the Copyright Office since the new copyright law came into effect in 1978. The functions of the Patents…

Representative William J. Hughes introduced a hearing to examine the Satellite Home Viewer Act of 1988 and issues arising from it. Discussion was presented on a recent Federal Communications Commission report on price discrimination, the definition of network, and the effectiveness of the "white area" amendment that permits the…

Government patent policy and the effect of antitrust legislation on innovation are discussed along with the efforts of the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department to formulate new government patent policy recommendations. Participation, disclosure, commercialization, and administrative cost are discussed as issues that concern the patent…

These proceedings contain edited versions of 14 papers on government information and its relation to the library and information community that were presented at a state-of-the-art institute sponsored by the Special Library Association (SLA). Following a foreword by Steve Bell of ABC News and an introduction by David R. Bender of the SLA, papers…

Discusses the development of a national information superhighway. Highlights include the National Information Infrastructure; NREN (National Research and Education Network); private networks, including Prodigy; repositioning in the telecommunications industry, including telephone, cable, and entertainment companies; government regulations;…

Discusses the U.S. Copyright Office's May 25, 1999 Report on Copyright and Digital Distance Education. Presents the Register of Copyrights' recommendations to Congress as to how to "promote distance education through networks, while maintaining an appropriate balance between the rights of copyright owners and the needs of users of copyrighted…

Hearings were held on 4 days to consider questions of fair use of unpublished materials, the renewal of copyrights, and national preservation of film materials pursuant to proposed amendments to federal legislation regarding copyrights included in House Bill 2372. Fair use provisions spell out some exceptions to statutorily defined rights of…

This paper examines copyright from an historical perspective, asserting that technology is and always has been the driving force behind copyright restrictions. In sixteenth-century England the printing press galvanized legislation. Today, technology, primarily in the form of the Internet, is once again a driving force behind a renewed and…