[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 37, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 37CFR251.32]

[Page 556-557]
 
              TITLE 37--PATENTS, TRADEMARKS, AND COPYRIGHTS
 
                                CONGRESS
 
PART 251--COPYRIGHT ARBITRATION ROYALTY PANEL RULES OF PROCEDURE--Table of Contents
 
                     Subpart D--Standards of Conduct
 
Sec. 251.32  Financial disclosure statement.

    (a) Within 45 days of their nomination, each nominated arbitrator 
shall file with the Librarian of Congress a confidential financial 
disclosure statement as provided by the Library of Congress, which 
statement shall be reviewed by the Librarian and designated Library 
staff to determine what conflicts of interest, if any, exist according 
to Sec. 251.31.
    (b) If any conflicts do exist, the Librarian shall not choose that 
person for the proceeding for which he or she has the financial 
conflict, except--
    (1) The listed arbitrator may divest himself or herself of the 
interest that caused the disqualification, and become qualified to 
serve; or

[[Page 557]]

    (2) The listed arbitrator may offer to disclose on the record the 
conflict of interest causing disqualification. In such instances:
    (i) The Librarian shall publish a list detailing the conflicts of 
interest the listed arbitrators have offered to disclose, and any other 
matters which, although outside of the scope of the restrictions of 
Sec. 251.31, nevertheless, in the view of the Librarian, raise 
sufficient concerns to warrant disclosure to the affected parties;
    (ii) Such list shall be included in an order issued no later than 
the commencement of the 45-day precontroversy discovery period;
    (iii) Such list shall contain the matters of concern, but shall not 
contain the names of the listed arbitrators.
    (iv) Any party to the proceeding for which the listed arbitrator is 
being considered may interpose within the 45-day period described in 
Sec. 251.45(b) an objection to that arbitrator being selected. If the 
objection is raised to a matter found to be within the scope of 
Sec. 251.31, the objection will serve automatically to disqualify the 
arbitrator. If the objection is raised to a matter found to be outside 
the scope of Sec. 251.31, the objection will be taken into account when 
the Librarian makes his or her selection, but will not serve 
automatically to disqualify the arbitrator.
    (c) At such time as the two selected arbitrators choose a third 
arbitrator, they shall consult with the Librarian to determine if any 
conflicts of interest exist for the third arbitrator. If, in the opinion 
of the Librarian of Congress, any conflicts of interest do exist, the 
two selected arbitrators shall be asked to choose another arbitrator who 
has no conflict of interest.
    (d) Within one week of the selection of the CARP, the three selected 
arbitrators shall file with the Librarian an updated confidential 
financial disclosure form or, if there are no changes in the 
arbitrator's financial interests, a statement to that effect. If any 
conflicts of interest are revealed on the updated form, the Librarian 
will suspend the proceeding and replace the selected arbitrator with 
another arbitrator from the arbitrator list in accordance with the 
provision of Sec. 251.6.
    (e) During the following periods of time, the selected arbitrators 
shall be obliged to inform the Librarian immediately of any change in 
their financial interests that would reasonably raise a conflict of 
interest--
    (1) During the period beginning with the filing of the updated 
disclosure form or statement required by paragraph (d) of this section 
and ending with the submission of the panel's report to the Librarian, 
and
    (2) If the same arbitrator or arbitrators are recalled to serve 
following a court-ordered remand, during the time the panel is 
reconvened.
    (f) If the Librarian determines that an arbitrator has failed to 
give timely notice of a financial interest constituting a conflict of 
interest, or that the arbitrator in fact has a conflict of interest, the 
Librarian shall remove that arbitrator from the proceeding.

[59 FR 23981, May 9, 1994, as amended at 59 FR 63040, Dec. 7, 1994; 60 
FR 8197, Feb. 13, 1995; 61 FR 63717, Dec. 2, 1996; 63 FR 30635, June 5, 
1998]