InsideGov
Congress · Laws

Copyright Amendments Act of 1992

Public Law 102-307 · S. 756 · 102nd Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Jun 26, 1992 · Commerce

Sponsor: Sen. Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ)

Cosponsors (4): Sen. Orrin Hatch,

Passage votes

  • HouseUnanimous consent
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

Report a correction

Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Copyright Amendments Act of 1992 - Title I: Renewal of Copyright - Copyright Renewal Act of 1992 - Amends Federal copyright law to provide an automatic copyright renewal system for all works copyrighted before January 1, 1978 (thus eliminating registration filing requirements for a second term of copyright protection). Sets forth copyright renewal terms and procedures.

Provides that if an application is submitted for the renewed and extended term of a copyright and an original term registration has not been made, the Register of Copyrights may request information relating to the existence, ownership, or duration of such copyright for the original term.

Increases the fee for registering a claim for renewal of a subsisting copyright in its first term.

Title II: National Film Preservation - National Film Preservation Act of 1992 - Repeals the National Film Preservation Act of 1988 after reauthorizing the National Film Registry and the National Film Preservation Board in the Library of Congress for four more years. Changes the name of the Library's collection of films and related materials received for the Registry to the "National Film Registry Collection of the Library of Congress."

Directs the Librarian of Congress to: (1) study and report to the Congress on the current state of film preservation and restoration activities, including the activities of the Library of Congress and other major film archives in the United States; and (2) establish a comprehensive national film preservation program for motion pictures, in conjunction with other film archivists and copyright owners.

Title III: Other Copyright Provisions - Repeals the requirement that the Register of Copyrights report every five years to the Congress regarding library and archives photocopying of copyrighted materials.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Judiciary Committee · Senate · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks Subcommittee
Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

Report a correction

Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 20 actions.

  1. Jun 26, 1992Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-307.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Jun 16, 1992PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Jun 4, 1992Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · On passage Passed without objection.
  7. FloorFloor · The previous question was ordered on the bill and the amendment, without objection.
  8. FloorFloor · Considered by unanimous consent.
  9. FloorFloor · Mr. Brooks asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
  10. Nov 25, 1991FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  11. FloorFloor · The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Voice Vote.
  12. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  13. Oct 22, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
  14. Aug 1, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Judiciary Committee
  15. Jun 17, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
  16. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
  17. Jun 12, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
  18. Mar 25, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
  19. Mar 21, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
  20. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

Report a correction

Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.