Distribution of the 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 Cable Royalty Funds

AGENCY:

Copyright Royalty Board, Library of Congress.

ACTION:

Final distribution order.

SUMMARY:

The Copyright Royalty Judges announce the final Phase II distribution of cable royalty funds for the years 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 for the Program Suppliers programming category.

DATES:

Effective March 28, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

The final distribution order also is posted on the Copyright Royalty Board Web site at http://www.loc.gov/crb.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kimberly Whittle, Attorney Advisor. Telephone: (202) 707-7658; Email: crb@loc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The captioned consolidated royalty distribution proceeding concluded on August 14, 2015, when the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit issued a mandate relating to their June 30, 2015, order affirming the distribution shares for claimants in the Program Suppliers category as determined by the Copyright Royalty Judges (Judges). After the mandate, the Judges received filings from Worldwide Subsidy Group dba Independent Producers Group (IPG) and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) contesting the appropriate methodology for distribution of the remaining royalty funds on deposit.

By order dated November 25, 2015, the Judges directed MPAA to provide historical context from which the Judges and the Licensing Division of the Copyright Office could distribute accurately the funds, taking into account prior partial distributions, fund growth through accrued interest, and deductions for Licensing Division costs. MPAA provided the necessary information on December 7, 2015. The Licensing Division staff provided accounting services to assure accurate distribution in accordance with the Judges' orders.

The Licensing Division calculated that, as of February 17, 2016, the total distribution to IPG for each royalty year should be:

Now, therefore, the Judges hereby order that the Licensing Division make final distribution to IPG from the Program Suppliers category for the years 2000 through 2003, inclusive, in the amounts listed, adjusted if necessary to reflect interest accrued or costs incurred from and after February 17, 2016, to the date of distribution.

The Judges further order that the Licensing Division distribute simultaneously the remaining funds in the Program Suppliers category for royalty years 2000 through 2003, inclusive, to MPAA, adjusted if necessary to reflect interest accrued or costs incurred from and after February 17, 2016.

The Judges further order that IPG and MPAA provide to the Licensing Division all necessary and pertinent information to facilitate the transfer by March 31, 2016.