There has been a lot of action around intellectual property lately. Below is a list of recent and upcoming inquiries and events around copyright and patent, much of which CCIA is involved in:
Copyright
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The House Judiciary IP subcommittee held a hearing on the notice and takedown provisions of the DMCA (titled “Section 512 of Title 17”) on March 13. CCIA submitted a statement for record.
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Stemming from the Department of Commerce Green Paper, the PTO and NTIA held a forum on the DMCA’s notice and takedown provisions on March 20. CCIA participated in this meeting. The PTO announced that the next forum will be on the West Coast, likely in early May.
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The Copyright Office held a series of roundtable sessions on March 10-11, at the Copyright Office. CCIA participated in sessions on March 10. The Copyright Office has requested further comments on potential legislative solutions for orphan works and mass digitization that address topics listed in the February Notice of Inquiry and/or that respond to issues raised during the March 10-11 public meetings. Comments are due April 14.
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The Copyright Office issued a notice announcing a roundtable and seeking public comment on how the international “right to communicate to the public” should be interpreted in US law. Comments are due April 4.
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The Copyright Office issued a notice seeking public comment for a study to evaluate the effectiveness of existing methods of licensing music. Comments are due May 16.
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CCIA will be filing an amicus brief in support of affirmance in the Supreme Court case ABC v. Aereo, in keeping with similar briefs CCIA filed in the same dispute in the district court and Second Circuit. Briefs in support of Aereo are due April 2.
Patent
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On March 27, the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to raise Senator Leahy’s bill, S. 1720. It seems likely that markup of the patent reform bill will be next week.
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On March 31, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Alice v. CLS Bank. CCIA filed an amicus brief in this case.