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B-222702 1 (1986-05-27)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadivy0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 


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


OFFICE OF GENERAL CoUNsm





      B-222702                                       May 27, 1986




      American Society of Composers,
        Authors and Publishers
      Mr. Hal David, President
      ASCAP Building
      One Lincoln Plaza
      New York City, New York   10023

      Dear Mr. David:

           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 contemplace 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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