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B-222702 1 (1986-05-27)

handle is hein.gao/gaobacvuw0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 


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


OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL





       B-222702                                        May 27, 1986




       Copyright Royalty
       Mr. Edward W. Ray, Chairman
       1111 20th Street
       Washington, D.C.  20036

       Dear Mr. Ray:

            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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