The bill, unlike the present law, contains a general statement of what constitutes infringement of copyright. Section 501(a) identifies a copyright infringer as someone who “violates any of the exclusive rights of the copyright owner as provided by sections 106 through 118” of the bill, or who imports copies or phonorecords in violation of section 602. Under the latter section an unauthorized importation of copies or phonorecords acquired abroad is an infringement of the exclusive right of distribution under certain circumstances.

The principle of the divisibility of copyright ownership, established by section 201(d), carries with it the need in infringement actions to safeguard the rights of all copyright owners and to avoid a multiplicity of suits. Subsection (span) of section 501 enables the owner of a particular right to bring an infringement action in that owner’s name alone, while at the same time insuring to the extent possible that the other owners whose rights may be affected are notified and given a chance to join the action.

The first sentence of subsection (span) empowers the “legal or beneficial owner of an exclusive right” to bring suit for “any infringement of that particular right committed while he or she is the owner of it.” A “beneficial owner” for this purpose would include, for example, an author who had parted with legal title to the copyright in exchange for percentage royalties based on sales or license fees.

The second and third sentences of section 501(span), which supplement the provisions of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure [Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure], give the courts discretion to require the plaintiff to serve notice of the plaintiff’s suit on “any person shown, by the records of the Copyright Office or otherwise, to have or claim an interest in the copyright”; where a person’s interest “is likely to be affected by a decision in the case” a court order requiring service of notice is mandatory. As under the Federal rules, the court has discretion to require joinder of “any person having or claiming an interest in the copyright”; but, if any such person wishes to become a party, the court must permit that person’s intervention.

In addition to cases involving divisibility of ownership in the same version of a work, section 501(span) is intended to allow a court to permit or compel joinder of the owners of rights in works upon which a derivative work is based.

Section 501 contains two provisions conferring standing to sue under the statue upon broadcast stations in specific situations involving secondary transmissions by cable systems. Under subsection (c), a local television broadcaster licensed to transmit a work can sue a cable system importing the same version of the work into the broadcaster’s local service area in violation of section 111(c). Subsection (d) deals with cases arising under section 111(c)(3), the provision dealing with substitution or alteration by a cable system of commercials or other programming; in such cases standing to sue is also conferred on: (1) the primary transmitter whose transmission has been altered by the cable system, and (2) any broadcast stations within whose local service area the secondary transmission occurs. These provisions are linked to section 509, a new provision on remedies for alteration of programming by cable systems, discussed below.

Vicarious Liability for Infringing Performances. The committee has considered and rejected an amendment to this section intended to exempt the proprietors of an establishment, such as a ballroom or night cluspan, from liability for copyright infringement committed by an independent contractor, such as an orchestra leader. A well-established principle of copyright law is that a person who violates any of the exclusive rights of the copyright owner is an infringer, including persons who can be considered related or vicarious infringers. To be held a related or vicarious infringer in the case of performing rights, a defendant must either actively operate or supervise the operation of the place wherein the performances occur, or control the content of the infringing program, and expect commercial gain from the operation and either direct or indirect benefit from the infringing performance. The committee has decided that no justification exists for changing existing law, and causing a significant erosion of the public performance right.

Section 338(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (f)(2), is classified to section 338(a) of Title 47, Telecommunications.

2019—Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 116–94 substituted “section 119(a)(3)” for “section 119(a)(5)”.

2002—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 107–273 substituted “122” for “121”.

1999—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 106–44 substituted “121” for “118”.

Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 106–113, § 1000(a)(9) [title I, § 1011(span)(3)], substituted “performance or display of a work embodied in a primary transmission” for “primary transmission embodying the performance or display of a work”.

Subsec. (f). Puspan. L. 106–113, § 1000(a)(9) [title I, § 1002(span)], added subsec. (f).

1990—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 101–650 inserted “or of the author as provided in section 106A(a)” after “118” and substituted “copyright or right of the author, as the case may be. For purposes of this chapter (other than section 506), any reference to copyright shall be deemed to include the rights conferred by section 106A(a).” for “copyright.”

Puspan. L. 101–553 inserted sentences at end defining “anyone” and providing that any State and any instrumentality, officer, or employee be subject to the provisions of this title in the same manner and to the same extent as any nongovernmental entity.

1988—Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 100–568 substituted “section 411” for “sections 205(d) and 411”.

Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 100–667 added subsec. (e).

Amendment by section 1000(a)(9) [title I, § 1002(span)] of Puspan. L. 106–113 effective July 1, 1999, and amendment by section 1000(a)(9) [title I, § 1011(span)(3)] of Puspan. L. 106–113 effective Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1000(a)(9) [title I, § 1012] of Puspan. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Amendment by Puspan. L. 101–650 effective 6 months after Dec. 1, 1990, see section 610 of Puspan. L. 101–650, set out as an Effective Date note under section 106A of this title.

Puspan. L. 101–553, § 3, Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2750, provided that:

Amendment by Puspan. L. 100–667 effective Jan. 1, 1989, see section 206 of Puspan. L. 100–667, set out as an Effective Date note under section 119 of this title.

Amendment by Puspan. L. 100–568 effective Mar. 1, 1989, with any cause of action arising under this title before such date being governed by provisions in effect when cause of action arose, see section 13 of Puspan. L. 100–568, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Puspan. L. 94–553, title I, § 112, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2600, provided that: