Washington - The U.S. Copyright Office is seeking public comment for its rulemaking proceeding on potential new exemptions to the anti-circumvention provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). "The purpose of this rulemaking proceeding is to determine whether there are particular classes of works as to which users are, or are likely to be, adversely affected in their ability to make noninfringing uses due to the prohibition on circumvention," reads the Copyright Office statement. Written comments proposing classes of works that should be exempted are due by Dec. 2, 2008, with comments for and against the proposals then due on Feb. 2, 2009.

Washington - A bill approved by the Senate last week that would have protected the new uses of "orphaned" copyright works will not be taken up in the House until at least after the elections, Wired.com reported, citing lobbyists.

Washington - The U.S. Copyright Office has announced that it will introduce its new online copyright registration system on Tuesday. In addition to added convenience, the service will offer features including a lower filing fee of $35 for a basic claim; faster processing time; earlier effective date of registration; and online status tracking.

Washington - The Digital Media Association (DiMA), which represents large webcasters like Yahoo, (NASD: YHOO) AOL (NYSE: TWX) and Microsoft (NASD: MSFT), has filed a brief asking the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) to refer the question of whether or not an interactive music stream needs a separate "reproduction" license, in addition to the performance license they already pay, to the U.S. Copyright Office, Billboard reported. "Digital music services believe that digital performances are like radio and should require a performance license only," DiMA said in a statement, referring to the license that both webcasters and radio broadcasters pay to performing rights organizations ASCAP, BMI and SESAC.

Washington - The U.S. Copyright Office announced that it has posted records for "preregistered" copyright claims on its website, which include certain types of unpublished works (like movies and albums) that have had a history of prerelease infringement. The site also includes a tutorial providing basic information on preregistration and search methods.