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The Copyright Royalty Judges from the Library of Congress have amended regulations to revise how digital music providers pay for the costs of a mechanical licensing collective. This change aims to make the payment process fairer, particularly for smaller music licenses and download services, without altering the total fees. Starting in 2021, these fees will involve a flat rate for smaller licensees and those operating download stores, while larger users will face different rules. These amendments provide more flexibility and clarity in how these fees are allocated and paid.

The U.S. Copyright Office issued a final rule under the Music Modernization Act (MMA) to address how digital music providers should handle and report accrued royalties for unmatched musical works. This rule aims to clarify the processes for transferring royalties to the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) while ensuring accurate payments to songwriters and copyright owners. It addresses the necessity of estimates and adjustments to royalties due to unknown factors, like the pending final determination of royalty rates. The rule also considers previous private agreements to prevent double payments while ensuring that unmatched royalties are correctly transferred and accounted for.