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committee was awaiting the formulation and adoption by the Federal Communications Commission of new cable television rules.
While action on the general revision bill was necessariy delayed, the unauthorized duplication of sound recordings became widespread. It was accordingly determined that the creation of a limited copyright in sound recordings should not await action on the general revision bill. Senator McClellan introduced, for himself and others. S. 644 of the 92nd Congress to amend title 17 of the U.S. Code to provide for the creation of a limited copyright in sound recordings. An amended version of this legislation was enacted as Public Law 92-140.
On March 26, 1973, Senator McClellan introduced S. 1361 for the general revision of the copyright law. Other than for technical amendments, this bill was identical to S. 644 of the 92d Congress. Additional copyright revision hearings were held on July 31 and August 1, 1973. The subcommittee conducted a total of 18 days of hearings on copyright law revision.
The subcommittee on April 19, 1974 reported S. 1361 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. After adopting several amendments to the subcommittee bill, the Judiciary Committee. reported the legislation on July 8, 1974. On July 9 the measure was removed from the Senate calendar and referred to the Committee on Commerce. The Commerce Committee reported S. 1361 with additional amendments on July 29. After adopting several amendments the Senate on September 9 passed S. 1361.
Since it was doubtful that adequate time remained in the 93d Congress for consideration in the House of Representatives of S. 1361, on September 9, Senator McClellan introduced and obtained immediate consideration of S. 3976. That bill, passed on September 9, extended the renewal term of expiring copyrights, established on a permanent basis a limited copyright in sound recordings, and created in the Library of Congress a National Commission on New Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works. The House of Representatives passed the measure with amendments on December 19, 1974, and the Senate concurred in the House amendments on the same date. The President approved the bill on December 31, 1974, and it became Public Law 93-573.
On January 15, 1975, Senator McClellan introduced S. 22. Other than for necessary perfecting and technical amendments and changes required by Public Law 93-573, the bill is identical to S. 1361 as passed by the Senate.
During the 94th Congress the Register of Copyrights prepared the Second Supplementary Report of the Register of Copyrights on the General Revision of the U.S. Copyright Law. This report discussed policy and technical issues of the revision legislation. The Register’s Report proposed clarification of the legislative intent in several areas, and certain of these recommendations are reflected in this Report.
During the 87th Congress the Senate passed S. 1884 to provide for a new form of protection for original ornamental designs of useful articles by protecting the authors of such designs for a limited time against unauthorized copying. The Senate in the 88th Congress passed S. 776 and, in the 90th Congress, S. 1237, bills on the same subject. No final action was taken in the House of Representatives on any of
