The Copyright Office amends its regulations through rulemakings. These proceedings often involve solicitation of comments from interested parties, roundtable discussions, reply comments, and hearings. Listed below are rulemakings that include such public input. In many cases, public comments, reply comments, and hearing transcripts are provided within the webpages listed below.

The Copyright Office initiated a proceeding to examine the “phantom signal” phenomenon. This matter arises under, and is tied to, the definition of the term “cable system” in Section 111 of the Copyright Act and the Copyright Office's implementing rules.

2007—2008 Rulemaking

Section 109 of the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act (SHVERA) of 2004, requires the Register of Copyrights to prepare a report for Congress regarding the operation and revision of the Sections 111, 119, and 122 statutory licenses under the Copyright Act, including her findings and recommendations.

2007—  Rulemaking

The Copyright Office conducted this rulemaking proceeding mandated by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which provides that the Librarian of Congress may exempt certain classes of works from the prohibition against circumvention of technological measures that control access to copyrighted works.


2005—2006 Rulemaking
2002—3003 Rulemaking
1999—2000 Rulemaking

In addition to issues regarding the scope of the 115 license, the Office continues to explore ways in which the service of Notice of Intention to Obtain Compulsory License under section 115 may be further streamlined.