This program offers 1 participatory MCLE credit.

This webinar will discuss recent initiatives by the U.S. Copyright Office in the administration of copyright law for the public benefit. Topics include:

• The Music Modernization Act (MMA): In 2019, the MMA updated current copyright laws to reflect modern consumer preferences and technological developments in the music marketplace.  A key part of the legislation was the creation of a new blanket licensing system for digital music providers to make and distribute digital phonorecord deliveries (streams, limited and permanent downloads). The Copyright Office was charged with designating the mechanical licensing collective (MLC), and is now undertaking rulemakings for the governance and administration of the MLC. This webinar will provide an overview of Office activities and current state of MMA administration.
•  Recent Litigation: The Copyright Office plays a critical role in developing the U.S. Government’s legal position in industry-shaping litigation at the Supreme Court and circuit courts by coordinating with the Department of Justice in copyright litigation.  This webinar will discuss recent highlights in federal litigation, particularly the Supreme Court’s recent copyright-related decisions.
• Policy and Study Updates: The Register of Copyrights is the principal advisor to Congress on national and international copyright matters, providing ongoing leadership and impartial expertise on copyright law and policy. Congress relies upon and directs the Copyright Office to provide critical law and policy services, and the past few years have been particularly active, as Copyright Office lawyers assisted Congress with copyright review hearings and prepared numerous timely reports. This webinar will highlight recent findings and conclusions as a result of this work.
• “Copyright in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”: We are in the midst of an artificial intelligence (AI) era, a period of rapid development and growth in machine learning enabled by advances in computing power and connectedness. New developments raise copyright questions related to how data is gathered and used, new works are created, and the intersection between machine and human collaboration. The Copyright Office co-hosted a symposium with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in February to develop answers to these issues, gathering a wide range of creative, technological, and legal experts. This webinar will briefly review the questions raised, the answers developed, and next steps in investigation.

Speakers: Catherine Rowland, Regan A. Smith, and John Wierzbicki

Moderator: Angus M. MacDonald