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B-222702 1 (1986-05-27)

handle is hein.gao/gaobacvup0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 



              -      UNITED STATES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20548


OFFICE OP GENERAL COUNSEL





      B-222702                                         May 27, 1986




      National  Endowment for the Arts
      Mr. Art Warren
      Acting General  Counsel
      1100 Pennsylvania  Avenue
      Washington,  D.C.  20506

      Dear Mr. Warren:

           Pursuant  to Pub. L. No. 99-194, § 401, 99 Stat.,  1345
       (1985) (copy enclosed), GAO is studying the feasibility of two
       new sources of funding for the National Endowment for the
       Arts, Humanities and Museum Services.  The two funding schemes
       specified for our consideration contemplate the creation of a
       revolving fund.  Under one scheme, the fund would be comprised
       of payments made to the federal government for the right to
       use or publicly perform artistic, dramatic, literary or
       musical works (works) in the public domain.  Under the other,
       the fund would be comprised of payments made to the federal
       government through an extension of the existing copyright
       period for artistic, dramatic, literary, and musical works.

           As part of  our study, we have been asked to consider
      whether  the proposals for the new funding schemes would
      survive constitutional  and other legal challenge.  Some of
      the  issues we have been asked to consider include:   (1) can
      Congress constitutionally  extend the copyright period condi-
      tioned on  the payment of a fee or tax by the users of the
      copyrighted material  during the extended period; (2) can
      Congress constitutionally  impose a fee or tax on the right to
      use or perform  works in the public domain; (3) what would be
      the impact of  the proposed funding schemes on obligations of
      the United States  under any international copyright treaties.

           We are  soliciting your views on the constitutional or
      other legal  concerns that the proposals for new funding
      schemes would pose  and would welcome any written comments
      concerning these  proposals by June 13, 1986.  If you have any

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