Search Results for keywords:"American Federation of Musicians

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.

In 2020, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bonneville Power Administration completed an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the operations of fourteen dams in the Columbia River System. Now, due to new circumstances, these agencies plan to update and supplement this EIS. This includes examining the environmental effects of proposed changes and new information affecting the dams' operations. The aim is to ensure the dams are managed in a way that considers regional energy, tribal needs, and environmental impacts, with public input being sought through virtual meetings and comments.

The Copyright Royalty Judges received notices from SoundExchange, Inc. indicating their intent to audit royalty payments from commercial and non-commercial webcasters for the years 2021 to 2023. These audits will examine the accuracy of royalty payments made by companies like Beasley Mezzanine Holdings, iHeartMedia, and Family Stations, Inc., under statutory licenses. SoundExchange is responsible for collecting and distributing these royalties and can conduct such audits once a year to ensure compliance. This notice was published to fulfill the requirement of announcing these intentions in the Federal Register.

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 U.S. Copyright Office, part of the Library of Congress, has issued a correction to a final rule published on January 11, 2021. The rule pertains to the responsibilities of digital music providers in transferring and reporting royalties for unmatched musical works to a mechanical licensing collective. This action is related to the Music Modernization Act, which aims to address unlicensed use of musical works. The correction involves specific amendments to section 210.10 of the associated regulation.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is starting administrative reviews of certain antidumping and countervailing duty orders with November anniversary dates. These reviews are being conducted as per the department's rules and have specific deadlines for submitting information. Various procedures are outlined in the notice, including respondent selection, no sales notification, and how parties can apply for separate rates, which are significant for companies from non-market economies to show independence from government control. The initiation of these reviews took effect on December 18, 2024, and seeks to conclude by November 30, 2025.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is updating the "Patient Advocate Tracking System" records, now called "Patient Advocate Tracking System Replacement (PATS-R)-VA." These changes involve revising its system name, location, manager details, and record-keeping policies. They also include altering the uses of records, such as who can access them and under what circumstances, to improve data management and security. The amendments aim to protect personal information better and enhance processes for addressing patient advocacy within the VA system.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has amended regulations to add 13 new standards of fill for wine and 15 for distilled spirits, aiming to offer more flexibility in container sizes. The TTB considered eliminating standards of fill altogether but decided against it to prevent consumer confusion and market disruption. Instead, the additional sizes are expected to support domestic and international trade and provide more options for consumers. Moreover, the TTB has removed the distinction between canned and other containers for distilled spirits, allowing the same standards to apply across all types. These changes take effect on January 10, 2025.

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.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published a supplemental notice requesting public comments on proposed changes to a rule that prohibits impersonating government and business entities. This notice included the option for interested parties to voice their opinions at an informal hearing, which focuses on whether to broaden the rule to also ban the impersonation of individuals. Nine organizations have been given the opportunity to present their statements at the upcoming hearing on January 17, 2025. The FTC has chosen not to move forward with a proposal that would hold parties accountable if their goods or services are used in impersonation schemes.