Search Results for keywords:"American Federation of Musicians

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.

The Executive Order 13981, issued by President Donald J. Trump, focuses on protecting the United States from security risks associated with Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) made by foreign adversaries. The order outlines steps to prevent the use of taxpayer money for buying UAS that present security threats, calls for assessments of current government UAS use, and encourages prioritizing domestically produced UAS. It defines "covered UAS" as those manufactured or containing components from nations like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea and emphasizes examining how these systems are used by federal agencies. The order also directs agencies to consider replacing these UAS in future budgets.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is establishing a new system of records called the Community Care Provider Profile Management System (PPMS), as required by the Privacy Act of 1974. This system will maintain records of non-VA health care providers participating in VA community care programs. The information stored in this system includes providers' personal and professional details, such as name, contact information, and identification numbers. The VA outlines several routine uses for this information, primarily involving disclosure to appropriate agencies for purposes like verifying provider credentials or responding to legal requests, all while ensuring compliance with privacy laws like HIPAA.

The U.S. Copyright Office has introduced a new group registration option called "Group Registration of Works on an Album of Music" (GRAM) that allows for the registration of musical works, sound recordings, and certain associated works distributed together on an album. This rule adopts, with some updates, previous proposals from a 2019 notice and will be effective starting March 26, 2021. Applicants can register up to twenty musical works and sound recordings from the same album using this option, which includes the implementation of specific online applications and a fee of $65. The rule aims to streamline the registration process and includes details on eligibility requirements, application procedures, and deposit requirements.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has introduced a final rule called the Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees. This rule aims to prevent businesses from misleading consumers about the prices of live-event tickets and short-term lodging. It requires businesses to clearly disclose the total price that includes all mandatory fees, to avoid bait-and-switch tactics that hide the real cost. The rule also prohibits businesses from lying about the nature, purpose, amount, or refundability of these fees, ensuring that consumers have a true understanding of the cost before making a purchase.

The Copyright Royalty Judges are proposing new regulations for the digital performance of sound recordings and making transient copies by new subscription services for the years 2026 to 2030. These regulations will determine how royalty rates are calculated for music services provided as part of TV packages, like cable or satellite, with a key change being the annual adjustment of fees based on inflation. Interested parties can comment or object to these proposed rules by January 21, 2025. Additionally, the changes incorporate the existing framework but include some updates, such as using proxy data to distribute royalties when licensees fail to report use data.

On October 3, 2023, Venezuela was designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) due to conditions in the country that made it unsafe for Venezuelans to return home. This status was set to expire on April 2, 2025. However, after reviewing the situation in Venezuela, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security decided that it's against the U.S. national interest for Venezuelans to remain in the U.S. under the 2023 TPS designation. As a result, this designation is being terminated, effective April 7, 2025. The termination doesn't affect the 2021 TPS designation for Venezuela, which remains active until September 10, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing changes to the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan for the waters off Washington, Oregon, and California. These changes include adjustments to recreational fishery seasons and allocations for 2025. New measures are also proposed to transfer unused fishing quotas from Northern California to areas south of Point Arena to help maintain opportunities for anglers. The public is invited to provide comments on these proposed rules by January 27, 2025.

The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council has announced a new rule that includes mining as a sector eligible for coverage under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41). This means that mining projects can now benefit from improved coordination and transparency in the federal permitting process. The rule aims to make the permitting process for mining projects more efficient without bypassing any environmental reviews or public consultations. By adding mining to the list of FAST-41 sectors, it is expected to help streamline the project review process for eligible mining endeavors.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is proposing a rule that would require alcohol beverage labels to disclose the presence of major food allergens such as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, and sesame. This initiative aims to give consumers who are allergic to these foods essential information to make informed choices about alcohol consumption. The proposal is part of a broader push to standardize labeling with other food products, and TTB is considering an extended compliance period to reduce the impact on the industry, particularly small businesses. Comments on the proposal are being sought until April 17, 2025.