American Royalties Too Act of 2015

To amend title 17, United States Code, to secure the rights of visual artists to copyright, to provide for resale royalties, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the American Royalties Too Act of 2015 2. Definitions Section 101 of title 17, United States Code, is amended— (1) by inserting after the definition of architectural work An auction ; (2) by inserting after the definition of Pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works For purposes of section 106(b), price ; (3) by inserting after the definition of registration For purposes of sections 106(b) and 701(b)(5), sale ; and (4) in the definition of work of visual art A work of visual art by the author. A work of visual art 3. Exclusive rights Section 106 of title 17, United States Code, is amended— (1) by inserting (a) In general.— Subject to sections 107 through 122 (2) in paragraph (5), by striking and (3) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (7) in the case of a work of visual art, to collect a royalty for the work if the work is sold by a person other than the author of the work for a price of not less than $5,000 as the result of an auction. (b) Collection of royalty (1) In general The collection of a royalty under subsection (a)(7) shall be conducted in accordance with this subsection. (2) Calculation of royalty (A) In general The royalty shall be an amount equal to the lesser of— (i) 5 percent of the price paid for the work of visual art; or (ii) $35,000. (B) Adjustment of amount In 2016 and each year thereafter, the dollar amount described in subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be increased by an amount equal to the product of— (i) that dollar amount; and (ii) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) calender year 2016 calendar year 1992 (3) Collection of royalty (A) Collection Not later than 90 days after the date on which the auction occurs, the entity that conducts the auction shall— (i) collect the royalty; and (ii) pay the royalty to a visual artists’ copyright collecting society. (B) Distribution Not fewer than 4 times each year, the visual artists’ copyright collecting society shall distribute to the author or his or her successor as copyright owner an amount equal to the difference between— (i) the net royalty attributable to the sales of the author; and (ii) the reasonable administrative expenses of the collecting society as determined by regulations issued under section 701(b)(5). (4) Failure to pay royalty Failure to pay a royalty provided for under this subsection shall— (A) constitute an infringement of copyright; and (B) be subject to— (i) the payment of statutory damages under section 504(c); and (ii) liability for payment of the full royalty due. (5) Right to collect royalty The right to collect a royalty under this subsection may not be sold, assigned, or waived except as provided in section 201. (6) Eligibility to receive royalty payment The royalty shall be paid to— (A) any author of a work of visual art— (i) who is a citizen of or domiciled in the United States; (ii) who is a citizen of or domiciled in a country that provides resale royalty rights; or (iii) whose work of visual art is first created in the United States or in a country that provides resale royalty rights; or (B) the successor as copyright owner of an author described in subparagraph (A). . 4. Notice of copyright Section 401 of title 17, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (e) Non-Applicability to works of visual art The provisions of this section shall not apply to a work of visual art. . 5. Copyright office Section 701(b) of title 17, United States Code, is amended by— (1) redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and (2) inserting after paragraph (4) the following: (5) Issue regulations governing visual artists’ copyright collecting societies described in section 106, that— (A) establish a process by which an entity is determined to be and designated as a visual artists’ copyright collecting society, that— (i) requires that a visual artists’ copyright collecting society authorized to administer royalty collections and distributions under this title shall— (I) have prior experience in licensing the copyrights of authors of works of visual art in the United States; or (II) have been authorized by not fewer than 10,000 authors of works of visual art, either directly or through reciprocal agreements with foreign collecting societies, to license the rights granted under section 106; and (ii) prohibits an entity from being designated as a visual artists’ copyright collecting society if, during a period of not less than 5 years that begins after the date on which the entity is designated as a visual artists’ copyright collecting society, the entity does not distribute directly to each author, or to the successor as copyright owner of each author, the amount of the royalties required to be distributed under section 106(b)(3)(B); (B) determine a reasonable amount of administrative expenses that a visual artists’ copyright collecting society may deduct from the royalties payable to an author of a work of visual art under section 106(b)(3); and (C) establish a process by which— (i) not less frequently than annually, a visual artists’ copyright collecting society may request from any entity that conducts auctions a list of each work of visual art sold in those auctions that is by an author represented by the collecting society; and (ii) an author of a work of visual art may obtain from a visual artists’ copyright collecting society any information requested by the collecting society under clause (i) that relates to a sale of a work of visual art by the author, including the amount of any royalty paid to the collecting society on behalf of the author. . 6. Study required Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Register of Copyrights shall— (1) conduct a study on— (A) the effects, if any, of the implementation of this Act, and the amendments made by this Act, on the art market in the United States; and (B) whether the provisions of this Act, and the amendments made by this Act, should be expanded to cover dealers, galleries, or other professionals engaged in the sale of works of visual art; and (2) submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report on the study described in paragraph (1), including any recommendations for legislation. 7. Effective date This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.

Summary: American Royalties Too Act of 2015 Expands copyright owners' exclusive rights, in the case of a work of visual art, to include the right to collect or authorize the collection of a royalty if the work is sold by a person other than the author for at least $5,000 in an auction. Defines "auction" as a public sale of visual art to the highest bidder run by an entity that sold at least $1 million of works of visual art during the previous year. Revises the term "work of visual art" to make requirements for photographs consistent with requirements for paintings, drawings, and prints. (Currently, a photograph must be a still photographic image produced for exhibition purposes only.) Limits the amount of such a royalty to the lesser of: (1) 5% of the purchase price; or (2) $35,000, subject to cost-of-living adjustments. Directs entities conducting such auctions to collect and pay the royalties to a visual artists' copyright collecting society. Requires the collecting society, at least four times each year, to distribute the appropriate royalties (minus administrative expenses) to authors or successor copyright owners. Requires an author of a work of visual art, in order to be eligible to receive such a royalty, to: (1) be a citizen of, or domiciled in, the United States or a country that provides resale royalty rights; or (2) have first created the work in the United States or a country that provides such royalty rights. Establishes a copyright infringement offense for the failure to pay such a royalty. Subjects infringers to: (1) statutory damages, and (2) liability for the full royalty. Prohibits the sale, assignment, or waiver of the right to collect such a royalty, subject to exceptions for works made for hire and transfers of copyright ownership. Directs the Register of Copyrights to issue regulations governing visual artists' copyright collecting societies.