Notice of Intent To Audit

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Library of Congress Copyright Office [Docket No. 2024-3] AGENCY: Copyright Office, Library of Congress. ACTION: Public notice. SUMMARY: The U.S. Copyright Office is announcing receipt of notices of intent to conduct audits pursuant to the section 115 blanket license. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rhea Efthimiadis, Assistant to the General Counsel, by email at meft@copyright.gov or telephone at 202-707-8350. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act (the “MMA”) substantially modified the compulsory “mechanical” license for reproducing and distributing phonorecords of nondramatic musical works under 17 U.S.C. 115 . [ 1 ] It did so by switching from a song-by-song licensing system to a blanket licensing regime that became available on January 1, 2021 (the “license availability date”), administered by a mechanical licensing collective (the “MLC”) designated by the Copyright Office (the “Office”). [ 2 ] Digital music providers (“DMPs”) are able to obtain this new statutory mechanical blanket license (the “blanket license”) to make digital phonorecord deliveries of nondramatic musical works, including in the form of permanent downloads, limited downloads, or interactive streams (referred to in the statute as “covered activity” where such activity qualifies for a blanket license), subject to various requirements, including reporti…