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Focuses on the number of sound recordings released during 1997-1999 which are not registered with the United States Copyright Office. Implications of failure to register recordings, including the loss of infringement compensation remedies; Impact of haphazard registration practices on lawsuits filed by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) against Napster and others; Estimates for the total number of unregistered albums in the U.S.

Reports on the denial of a summary judgment motion in Universal Music Group's (UMG) copyright infringement lawsuit against MP3.com. Contention of UMG that the sound recordings involved in the suit are works made for hire; Details of the repeal of a 1999 law which classified sound recordings as works made for hire; Support of the Recording Artists Coalition (RAC) for MP3.com's position that the UMG recordings were registered invalidly as works for hire; Outlook.

The article discusses copyright law in the U.S. related to music licensing and publishing as of March 2013. Topics include comments by U.S. Register of Copyrights Maria Pallante on copyright reform; the role of copyright in the sound recording industry; music performance rights; and copyright infringement in digital media.

Reports that the $132 million in damages Island Def Jam Music Group chairman Lyor Cohen and Def Jam Records were ordered to pay TVT Records will likely be substantially reduced on appeal, according to sources familiar with the case. The damages awarded May 6, 2003 by the New York federal jury included $24 million in compensatory damages and $52 million in punitive damages against Def Jam, plus $56 million in punitive damages against Cohen personally. In March, a separate jury found Cohen and Def Jam Records guilty of fraud, copyright infringement, and breach of contract regarding the release by TVT of a hip-hop album featuring Ja Rule and Cash Murda Clik, among others.

Reports that the German federal parliament passed the European Union's directive regulating copyright law in the information society, making it only the fourth country in Europe to do so. Efforts of the hardware industry to defeat the directive; Details of the directive, including the admissibility of a private copy and levies paid by German consumers for private copying; Legality of offering technologies to crack copy-protected music CDs.

Reports that leading figures from across the Portuguese music industry have been raising the contentious issue of music quotas with government and opposition politicians in an attempt to increase the amount of domestic music played by radio stations. The meeting held March 19, 2003 saw representatives of local labels and AFP--the Portuguese affiliate of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry--and selected broadcasters join with members of parliament from the opposition Partida Socialista (PS, or the socialist party) to discuss the issue. A group of music industry representatives also recently met with ministers from the center-right coalition government. The latest round of meetings follows years of pressure from individual labels, the AFP, authors society SPA, and artists, who have all called on the government to introduce and police workable quota laws to safeguard Portugal's domestic music industry. Under the Radio Broadcasting Laws of 1981, Portuguese radio should currently play at least 40% local music. Under the Radio Broadcasting Laws, stations must adhere to the quota to "defend Portuguese culture and music." The quotas issue is scheduled to be debated in parliament at an unspecified date in 2003. If no positive results come from that, the draft bill could be used to reform the quotas legislation, should the PS eventually gain power.

Reports on the reaction of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters to a ruling by the Canadian Copyright Board on royalties payable by commercial Canadian radio stations for the reproduction of musical works. Its claim that the decision suggests to the recording industry that it should not embrace new technology or modernize its practices; Collection of royalties under this decision; Details of the tiered royalty system.

Focuses on the decision of the U.S. Copyright Office that lets stand the ruling that simulcast retransmission of an AM/FM broadcast signal over the Internet is not exempt from the limited digital performance right for sound recordings. Reaction of the National Association of Broadcasters to the decision; Implications of the ruling for broadcast stations; Payment of royalty fees under the ruling.

Reports that a coalition representing recording artists unions and record labels are lobbying the United States Congress to update payola laws, or laws banning the payment of cash or gifts for radio airplay. Details of a letter sent by this group in which they request that Congress forbid the payments made by independent promoters to radio stations unless the payment is announced, investigate radio industry vertical integration, as well as make other changes; Signatories of the letter.

Reports that United States Senator Orrin Hatch announced that he will initiate discussions with other legislators to forge an artist rights and non-discriminatory licensing bill. Details of the hearing at which this announcement was made, which was convened to discuss relevant sound recording industry legislation; Proposed provisions for such a bill, including an out-of-print revival right and artist rights in Internet domain names.

Reports that several individuals and groups have responded to a written invitation by the chairman of the United States House Judiciary Committee to forward their views on problems associated with the online music industry. Details of the request, which was made following legislative efforts to forge an alternative to the Music Online Copyright Act; Request by music industry groups that legislation address music piracy; Details of suggestions from other groups.

Focuses on the use of the United States Copyright Act's termination right. Explanation of this termination provision as it pertains to sound recordings; Categories of sound recording affected by the termination right; Legal issues associated with this provision.

Reports that the United States Supreme Court will hear a case to determine the legality of the U.S. Copyright Act's current term of copyright. Constitutionality of the term; Related legislation, including a 1998 extension of the Act; Opposition to a challenge to this law by the sound recording industry and others.

Reports that record labels have brokered an agreement with songwriters and publishers that allows for the launch of digital music subscription services in 2001. View of sound recording executives and analysts that the deal is not a long-term solution to licensing issues for online music; Details of the agreement, including an acknowledgement that a mechanical license is required for downloads; Pending issues in the agreement, including rates and royalties issues.