Compensating Legacy Artists for their Songs, Service, and Important Contributions to Society Act or the CLASSICS Act
This bill provides federal copyright protection for sound recordings fixed before February 15, 1972, specifically the right to make digital transmissions. Currently, pre-1972 recordings are only covered by state law.
Pre-1972 recordings will fall within the existing compulsory license system for digital transmissions, which currently only cover post-1972 recordings.
The bill preempts claims under state and common law for digital transmission of pre-1972 recordings.