CHAPTER 27 —SOUND RECORDING PRESERVATION BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
SUBCHAPTER I—NATIONAL RECORDING REGISTRY
SUBCHAPTER II—NATIONAL SOUND RECORDING PRESERVATION PROGRAM
SUBCHAPTER III—NATIONAL RECORDING PRESERVATION BOARD
SUBCHAPTER IV—GENERAL PROVISIONS
SUBCHAPTER I—NATIONAL RECORDING REGISTRY
§1701. National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress
The Librarian of Congress shall establish the National Recording Registry for the purpose of maintaining and preserving sound recordings that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
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Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title
§1702. Duties of Librarian of Congress
(a) Establishment of criteria and procedures
For purposes of carrying out this subchapter, the Librarian shall—
(1) establish criteria and procedures under which sound recordings may be included in the National Recording Registry, except that no sound recording shall be eligible for inclusion in the National Recording Registry until 10 years after the recording's creation;
(2) establish procedures under which the general public may make recommendations to the National Recording Preservation Board established under subchapter III regarding the inclusion of sound recordings in the National Recording Registry; and
(3) determine which sound recordings satisfy the criteria established under paragraph (1) and select such recordings for inclusion in the National Recording Registry.
(b) Publication of sound recordings in the Registry
The Librarian shall publish in the Federal Register the name of each sound recording that is selected for inclusion in the National Recording Registry.
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§1703. Seal of the National Recording Registry
(a) In general
The Librarian shall provide a seal to indicate that a sound recording has been included in the National Recording Registry and is the Registry version of that recording.
(b) Use of seal
The Librarian shall establish guidelines for approval of the use of the seal provided under subsection (a), and shall include in the guidelines the following:
(1) The seal may only be used on recording copies of the Registry version of a sound recording.
(2) The seal may be used only after the Librarian has given approval to those persons seeking to apply the seal in accordance with the guidelines.
(3) In the case of copyrighted mass distributed, broadcast, or published works, only the copyright legal owner or an authorized licensee of that copyright owner may place or authorize the placement of the seal on any recording copy of the Registry version of any sound recording that is maintained in the National Recording Registry Collection in the Library of Congress.
(4) Anyone authorized to place the seal on any recording copy of any Registry version of a sound recording may accompany such seal with the following language: "This sound recording is selected for inclusion in the National Recording Registry by the Librarian of Congress in consultation with the National Recording Preservation Board of the Library of Congress because of its cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance.".
(c) Effective date of the seal
The use of the seal provided under subsection (a) with respect to a sound recording shall be effective beginning on the date the Librarian publishes in the Federal Register (in accordance with
(d) Prohibited uses of the seal
(1) Prohibition on distribution and exhibition
No person may knowingly distribute or exhibit to the public a version of a sound recording or any copy of a sound recording which bears the seal described in subsection (a) if such recording—
(A) is not included in the National Recording Registry; or
(B) is included in the National Recording Registry but has not been approved for use of the seal by the Librarian pursuant to the guidelines established under subsection (b).
(2) Prohibition on promotion
No person may knowingly use the seal described in subsection (a) to promote any version of a sound recording or recording copy other than a Registry version.
(e) Remedies for violations
(1) Jurisdiction
The several district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction, for cause shown, to prevent and restrain violations of subsection (d).
(2) Relief
(A) Removal of seal
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), relief for violation of subsection (d) shall be limited to the removal of the seal from the sound recording involved in the violation.
(B) Fine and injunctive relief
In the case of a pattern or practice of the willful violation of subsection (d), the court may order a civil fine of not more than $10,000 and appropriate injunctive relief.
(3) Limitation of remedies
The remedies provided in this subsection shall be the exclusive remedies under this chapter, or any other Federal or State law, regarding the use of the seal described in subsection (a).
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§1704. National Recording Registry Collection of the Library of Congress
(a) In general
All copies of sound recordings on the National Recording Registry that are received by the Librarian under subsection (b) shall be maintained in the Library of Congress and be known as the "National Recording Registry Collection of the Library of Congress". The Librarian shall by regulation and in accordance with title 17 provide for reasonable access to the sound recordings and other materials in such collection for scholarly and research purposes.
(b) Acquisition of quality copies
(1) In general
The Librarian shall seek to obtain, by gift from the owner, a quality copy of the Registry version of each sound recording included in the National Recording Registry.
(2) Limit on number of copies
Not more than one copy of the same version or take of any sound recording may be preserved in the National Recording Registry. Nothing in the preceding sentence may be construed to prohibit the Librarian from making or distributing copies of sound recordings included in the Registry for purposes of carrying out this Act.
(c) Property of United States
All copies of sound recordings on the National Recording Registry that are received by the Librarian under subsection (b) shall become the property of the United States Government, subject to the provisions of title 17.
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Editorial Notes
References in Text
This Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is
SUBCHAPTER II—NATIONAL SOUND RECORDING PRESERVATION PROGRAM
§1711. Establishment of program by Librarian of Congress
(a) In general
The Librarian shall, after consultation with the National Recording Preservation Board established under subchapter III, implement a comprehensive national sound recording preservation program, in conjunction with other sound recording archivists, educators and historians, copyright owners, recording industry representatives, and others involved in activities related to sound recording preservation, and taking into account studies conducted by the Board.
(b) Contents of program specified
The program established under subsection (a) shall—
(1) coordinate activities to assure that efforts of archivists and copyright owners, and others in the public and private sector, are effective and complementary;
(2) generate public awareness of and support for these activities;
(3) increase accessibility of sound recordings for educational purposes;
(4) undertake studies and investigations of sound recording preservation activities as needed, including the efficacy of new technologies, and recommend solutions to improve these practices; and
(5) utilize the audiovisual conservation center of the Library of Congress at Culpeper, Virginia, to ensure that preserved sound recordings included in the National Recording Registry are stored in a proper manner and disseminated to researchers, scholars, and the public as may be appropriate in accordance with title 17 and the terms of any agreements between the Librarian and persons who hold copyrights to such recordings.
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§1712. Promoting accessibility and public awareness of sound recordings
The Librarian shall carry out activities to make sound recordings included in the National Recording Registry more broadly accessible for research and educational purposes and to generate public awareness and support of the Registry and the comprehensive national sound recording preservation program established under this subchapter.
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SUBCHAPTER III—NATIONAL RECORDING PRESERVATION BOARD
§1721. Establishment
The Librarian shall establish in the Library of Congress a National Recording Preservation Board whose members shall be selected in accordance with the procedures described in
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§1722. Appointment of members
(a) Selections from lists submitted by organizations
(1) In general
The Librarian shall request each organization described in paragraph (2) to submit a list of three candidates qualified to serve as a member of the Board. The Librarian shall appoint one member from each such list, and shall designate from that list an alternate who may attend at Board expense those meetings which the individual appointed to the Board cannot attend.
(2) Organizations described
The organizations described in this paragraph are as follows:
(A) National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS).
(B) Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
(C) Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC).
(D) American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
(E) Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI).
(F) Songwriters Association (SESAC).
(G) American Federation of Musicians (AF of M).
(H) Music Library Association.
(I) American Musicological Society.
(J) National Archives and Record Administration.
(K) National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM).
(L) Society for Ethnomusicology.
(M) American Folklore Society.
(N) Country Music Foundation.
(O) Audio Engineering Society (AES).
(P) National Academy of Popular Music.
(Q) Digital Media Association (DiMA).
(b) Other members
In addition to the members appointed under subsection (a), the Librarian may appoint not more than five members-at-large. The Librarian shall select an alternate for each member-at-large, who may attend at Board expense those meetings that the member-at-large cannot attend.
(c) Chair
The Librarian shall appoint one member of the Board to serve as Chair.
(d) Term of office
(1) Terms
The term of each member of the Board shall be 4 years, except that there shall be no limit to the number of terms that any individual member may serve.
(2) Removal of members
The Librarian shall have the authority to remove any member of the Board if the member fails, after receiving proper notification, to attend (or send a designated alternate to attend) a regularly scheduled Board meeting, or if the member is determined by the Librarian to have substantially failed to fulfill the member's responsibilities as a member of the Board.
(3) Vacancies
A vacancy in the Board shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made under subsection (a), except that the Librarian may fill the vacancy from a list of candidates previously submitted by the organization or organizations involved. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the remainder of the term of the member's predecessor.
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Editorial Notes
Amendments
2008—Subsec. (d)(2).
§1723. Service of members; meetings
(a) Reimbursement of expenses
Members of the Board shall serve without pay, but may receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with
(b) Conflict of interest
The Librarian shall establish rules and procedures to address any potential conflict of interest between a member of the Board and responsibilities of the Board.
(c) Meetings
The Board shall meet at least once each fiscal year. Meetings shall be at the call of the Librarian.
(d) Quorum
Eleven members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
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§1724. Responsibilities of Board
(a) Review and recommendation of nominations for National Recording Registry
(1) In general
The Board shall review nominations of sound recordings submitted to it for inclusion in the National Recording Registry and advise the Librarian, as provided in subchapter I, with respect to the inclusion of such recordings in the Registry and the preservation of these and other sound recordings that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
(2) Source of nominations
The Board shall consider for inclusion in the National Recording Registry nominations submitted by the general public as well as representatives of sound recording archives and the sound recording industry (such as the guilds and societies representing sound recording artists) and other creative artists.
(b) Study and report on sound recording preservation and restoration
The Board shall conduct a study and issue a report on the following issues:
(1) The current state of sound recording archiving, preservation and restoration activities.
(2) Taking into account the research and other activities carried out by or on behalf of the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center at Culpeper, Virginia—
(A) the methodology and standards needed to make the transition from analog "open reel" preservation of sound recordings to digital preservation of sound recordings; and
(B) standards for access to preserved sound recordings by researchers, educators, and other interested parties.
(3) The establishment of clear standards for copying old sound recordings (including equipment specifications and equalization guidelines).
(4) Current laws and restrictions regarding the use of archives of sound recordings, including recommendations for changes in such laws and restrictions to enable the Library of Congress and other nonprofit institutions in the field of sound recording preservation to make their collections available to researchers in a digital format.
(5) Copyright and other laws applicable to the preservation of sound recordings.
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§1725. General powers of Board
(a) In general
The Board may, for the purpose of carrying out its duties, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence, as the Librarian and the Board consider appropriate.
(b) Service on Foundation
Two sitting members of the Board shall be appointed by the Librarian and shall serve as members of the board of directors of the National Recording Preservation Foundation, in accordance with
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SUBCHAPTER IV—GENERAL PROVISIONS
§1741. Definitions
As used in this chapter:
(1) The term "Librarian" means the Librarian of Congress.
(2) The term "Board" means the National Recording Preservation Board.
(3) The term "sound recording" has the meaning given such term in
(4) The term "publication" has the meaning given such term in
(5) The term "Registry version" means, with respect to a sound recording, the version of a recording first published or offered for mass distribution whether as a publication or a broadcast, or as complete a version as bona fide preservation and restoration activities by the Librarian, an archivist other than the Librarian, or the copyright legal owner can compile in those cases where the original material has been irretrievably lost or the recording is unpublished.
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§1742. Staff; experts and consultants
(a) Staff
The Librarian may appoint and fix the pay of such personnel as the Librarian considers appropriate to carry out this chapter.
(b) Experts and consultants
The Librarian may, in carrying out this chapter, procure temporary and intermittent services under
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Editorial Notes
References in Text
The General Schedule, referred to in subsec. (b), is set out under
§1743. Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Librarian for the first fiscal year beginning on or after November 9, 2000, and each succeeding fiscal year through fiscal year 2026 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this chapter, except that the amount authorized for any fiscal year may not exceed $250,000.
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Editorial Notes
Amendments
2016—
2008—