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B-222702 1 (1986-05-27)

handle is hein.gao/gaobacvuv0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 



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


OFFICE OF GENERAL. COUNSEL





       B-222702                                       May 27, 1986




       Mr. Jon Baumgarten
       Proskauer, Rose, Goetz & Mendelsohn
       1150 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
       Washington, D.C.  20036

       Dear Mr. Baumgarten:

            Pursuant to Pub. L. No. 99-194, S 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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