Re: S.505 Signed

George L. Abbott <glabbott[_at_]library.syr.edu> wrote:
>
> As I read the announcement of the President's signing of S.505 it
> notes the provisions become effective 90 days after signing.
>
> Does this mean that from Midnight on January 1, 1999 until 11:59pm on
> January 20, 1999 the old provisions apply and that in fact some works
> do enter the public domain. -- For that period of time (20 days)?
> -- Or permanently, since I think I saw someone write that you could
> not take a work out of public domain?

Be careful. The term extension act has two effective dates. For title I -- term extension -- it is effective immediately upon signing (section 106), which includes works whose terms would have expired at the end of this year. It's Title II only -- music licensing -- that doesn't become effective until 90 days after licensing (section 206).

Gloria C. Phares
Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler
gcphares[_at_]pbwt.com
(212) 336-2686 Received on Fri Oct 30 1998 - 17:06:21 GMT