This September 29, 1976, report of the joint Senate-House of Representatives Conference Committee contains the amended text of a proposed new copyright law. An explanation of the specific points of conflict in the House and Senate versions of the bill and the resolutions suggested by the Conference Committee are appended. As reported out of the…

Under previous copyright legislation and jurisprudence, medical, and to a lesser extent, educational professionals, were afforded broad discretion under the judicially created fair use doctrine. The Copyright Act of 1976 creates a statutory definition of fair use and prescribes a test to be used in determining when a use is "fair" and…

The Copyright Act of 1976 provides statutory definitions of fair use and in general is restrictive of the use of film and video in an educational setting, reflecting a general "copyright owner's" point of view. Film distributors are enforcing and planning to continue to enforce their rights under the law. There is a general concern that…

This article, written before report to Congress by Register of Copyrights was issued, examines whether balancing of rights of creators and needs of users has been accomplished by Copyright Revision Act of 1976, and reviews key issues in dispute between librarians and publishers over use of copyrighted materials in libraries. (EJS)

Senate Bill 22, the proposed new copyright law, specifies in chapter one the subject matter and scope of copyright. It also defines the terms used in the bill and formulates limitations on the exclusive rights of copyright holders. These limitations include the "fair use" of copyrighted work by reproduction for noncommercial educational use,…

Reviews selected proposals for revision of Canadian Copyright Act which relate to copyright exemptions, fair use, reprography, copyright societies, materials for the disabled, computerized information systems, collective works, public renting rights, paternity right, and right to authorize. Modifications in the interest of libraries are suggested.…

The radical revision of the Copyright Act by Congress more than a decade ago removed many broad educational and nonprofit exemptions. "Guidelines" for copying materials for classroom use in educational institutions included within the published legislative history of the 1976 Act are provided. (MLF)

Discusses issue of photocopying of unpublished personal papers by archives and manuscript repositories at request of individual researchers. Historical rationale for common-law protection, support for statutory law protection, ambiguities in fair-use provisions, effects on photocopying, survey of manuscript repositories, and dissatisfaction with…

Discussion of the issue of copyright regulation highlights 1909 statute, 1976 Copyright Act, those affected by copyright, "Betamax" case, and responsibility of Congress in copyright regulation. Creation of federal administrative agency to design standards for application of fair copyright principles through regulation and adjudication is…

A major problem area under the 1976 Copyright Act that needs clarification, if not revision, concerns the use of photocopied copyrighted materials in classrooms. (Author/MLF)

Reprography of musical works as covered by Copyright Law 1976 (section 108) and new law (PL94-553) is discussed. Historical interpretation and exclusion of music and copyright, impact of law on music libraries, and recommendations for revision of law by Music Library Association and Music Publisher's Association of America are highlighted. (EJS)

This text of Senate Bill 1361, placed before the 93rd session of the United States Congress, proposes a number of revisions in the federal copyright law. The bill defines the terminology of copyright and stipulates exclusive rights in copyrighted works, including print materials; sound recordings; pictoral, graphic, and scuptural works; and…

Discusses five-year review of the issue of library reproduction of copyrighted works mandated by Section 108(i) of Copyright Act of 1976. Highlights include preparation for Register's report (advisory committee, hearings, King Research report, librarian/copyright proprietor meetings); findings; and recommendations (voluntary agreements and…

Intended to help librarians, library media specialists, administrators, and educators better understand the ramifications of the copyright law, Public Law 94-553, this document asks and answers some of the basic questions concerning compliance with the law. Topics covered include definition of the copyright law; scope of copyright protection;…

Reviews attempts to revise present copyright law to resolve areas of conflict concerning fair use, place of consumer of copyrighted works, and control of misuse of technology. Highlights include the Register's Report and its effect, American Library Association's response, publishing industry recommendations, Copyright Office recommendations, and…