HB499 Alabama 2018 Session

Under existing federal copyright law, Congress has granted copyright protection to the owner of sound recordings performed publicly by means of a digital audio transmission or other electronic broadcast on or after February 15, 1972, and has preempted any equivalent right under the common law or state statutory law.

Also under existing law, Congress has specified that the preemptive provisions of the copyright protections do not annul or limit any common law or state statutory law with regard to sound recordings originating before February 15, 1972, and currently being electronically transmitted or broadcast.

This bill would provide copyright protections to the owner of sound recordings recorded or broadcast prior to February 15, 1972, and would authorize the owner to file a claim for damages for a violation.

Relating to intellectual property; to provide copyright protections to the owner of certain sound recordings.