Audio Home Recording Act of 1992
Public Law 102-563 · S. 1623 · 102nd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Oct 28, 1992 · Commerce
Sponsor: Sen. Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ)
Cosponsors (35): Sen. Daniel Inouye, 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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Audio Home Recording Act of 1992 - Amends Federal copyright law to set forth definitions relating to digital audio recording devices and media.
Prohibits the importation, manufacture, or distribution of any digital audio recording device or interface device that does not conform to the Serial Copy Management System or any other system certified by the Secretary of Commerce as prohibiting unauthorized serial copying.
Sets forth a mandatory recordation and filing procedure for the importation, manufacture, or distribution of digital audio recording devices or media. Requires importers and manufacturers to file quarterly and annual statements of account with the Register of Copyrights (the Register). Requires the Register to issue regulations to provide for the verification and audit of statements and to protect confidentiality of information.
Prescribes royalty payment guidelines for digital audio recording devices imported, manufactured, or distributed in the United States. Requires that royalty payments be deposited into the Treasury. Identifies interested copyright parties entitled to royalty payments. Prescribes royalty payment allocation and distribution procedures.
Prohibits copyright infringement actions based on the manufacture, importation, or distribution of a digital or analog audio recording device or medium or on noncommercial use of such devices or media for making digital or analog musical recordings.
Sets forth civil remedies for violations of this Act, including impoundment, remedial modification and destruction of non-complying devices, and binding arbitration.
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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 19 actions.
- Oct 28, 1992Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-563.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 20, 1992PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 7, 1992Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
- Sep 22, 1992FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · A similar measure H.R. 3204 was laid on the table without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed without objection.
- FloorFloor · The House struck all after the enacting clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar measure H.R. 3204. Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Considered by unanimous consent.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Brooks asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
- Jun 17, 1992FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Nov 27, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
- Nov 21, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Judiciary Committee
- Oct 29, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
- Aug 29, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
- Aug 2, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
- Aug 1, 1991IntroducedIntroduced · 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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.