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B-222702 1 (1986-05-27)

handle is hein.gao/gaobacvus0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 



                     UNITED STATES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE
                             WASHfNGTON, D.C. 20548


OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL





       B-222702                                      May 27, 1986




       Dramatists Guild
       Mr. David C. Levine
       234 W. 44th Street
       New York City, New York  10036

       Dear Mr. Levine:

            Pursuant to Pub. L. No. 99-194, S  401, 99 Stat., 1345
       (1985) (copy enclosed), GAO is studying  the feasibilitytof 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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