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US Copyright Office Seeks Public Comment on Interim Rule Implementing FOIA Improvement Act
Practical Law Legal Update w-005-8986 (Approx. 3 pages)
US Copyright Office Seeks Public Comment on Interim Rule Implementing FOIA Improvement Act
by Practical Law Intellectual Property & Technology
| Published on 09 Feb 2017 • USA (National/Federal) |
In an interim rule, the US Copyright Office amended the regulations covering its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) practices and procedures to implement the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 and provide clear guidance on filing FOIA requests with the office. The Copyright Office is requesting public comment on the interim rule.
On February 7, 2017, in an interim rule, the US Copyright Office amended the regulations covering its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) practices and procedures to implement the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 and provide clear guidance on filing FOIA requests with the office (82 Fed. Reg. 9505, (Feb. 7, 2017)).
Among other things, the rule:
- Provides a clear structure for the required regulatory provisions of FOIA with:
- individual sections stating the time, place, fees, and procedures for making FOIA requests; and
- clear authority for the disposition of FOIA requests.
- Extends the time limit for filing an administrative appeal from 30 to 90 days.
- Formalizes the Copyright Office's practices of multi-track processing and aggregation for administrative convenience.
- Provides additional regulatory language to enhance customer service, in particular language:
- emphasizing the availability of the Office's FOIA Public Liaison to assist FOIA requesters;
- providing for communication by email; and
- establishing guidelines for agency communication through the initial request and appeals processes.
The interim rule is effective March 9, 2017. The deadline for public comment is April 24, 2017.