Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990

Summary

Visual Artists Rights Act of 1989 - Amends the copyright law to define a "work of visual art." Grants the author of a work of visual art the right to claim authorship of such work when publicly displayed, independent of other exclusive rights, and to disclaim authorship of such work because of substantial distortion or alteration that harms his or her reputation. Grants such an author the right to prevent any destruction, distortion, mutilation, or other modification of that work which would harm his or her reputation or honor. Grants the author who is not a copyright owner such rights only during his or her lifetime. Extends such rights 50 years beyond the author's death with respect to visual art works created as of the effective date of this Act. Waives artists' rights when a work cannot be removed from a building without distortion, mutilation, or alteration, unless such rights are expressly reserved by an instrument in writing. Directs the Register of Copyrights to establish a recordation system for authors of visual art works that have been incorporated into a building. Declares that this Act preempts equivalent rights under State law. Includes within the scope of copyright infringement violations of the rights conferred by this Act. Declares that: (1) criminal infringement penalties do not apply to such violations; and (2) registration is not a prerequisite to copyright infringement actions for violations of this Act. Stipulates when a claim accrues for purposes of an action for copyright infringement of an author of a work of visual art. Directs the Register of Copyrights to report to the Congress the results of a feasibility study regarding new requirements enabling authors of works of visual art to participate in the commercial exploitation of their work after its first sale. Requires submission of such report within 18 months after enactment of this Act.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 20 June 1989

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 20 June 1989

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 20 June 1989

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 26 June 1989

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Administration of Justice.

   Source: Committee

5. 18 October 1989

   Committee

   Subcommittee Hearings Held.

   Source: Committee

6. 28 February 1990

   Committee

   Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).

   Source: Committee

7. 28 February 1990

   Committee

   Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

   Source: Committee

8. 28 March 1990

   Committee

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

   Source: Committee

9. 28 March 1990

   Reported

   Ordered to be Reported (Amended).

   Source: Committee

10. 1 June 1990

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 101-514.

    Source: Committee

11. 1 June 1990

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 101-514.

    Source: Committee

12. 1 June 1990

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 311.

    Source: Calendars

13. 5 June 1990

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

14. 5 June 1990

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

    Source: Floor

15. 5 June 1990

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

    Source: Floor

16. 5 June 1990

    Passed

    On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

17. 5 June 1990

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules.

    Source: Floor

18. 5 June 1990

    Passed

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

    Source: Floor

19. 5 June 1990

    Floor

    Mr. Moorhead demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.

    Source: Floor

20. 5 June 1990

    Floor

    Mr. Kastenmeier moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

    Source: Floor

21. 7 June 1990

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate.

    Source: IntroReferral

22. 8 June 1990

    Calendars

    Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

    Source: Calendars

23. 11 June 1990

    Calendars

    Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 602.

    Source: Calendars

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Engrossed in House · undated · Official file
• Introduced in House · undated · Official file
• Placed on Calendar Senate · undated · Official file
• Received in Senate · undated · Official file
• Reported in House · undated · Official file

Documents

7 official files

• Reported in House (text)

  Reported in House · EN

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Received in Senate (text)

  Received in Senate · EN

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

  Placed on Calendar Senate · EN

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Engrossed in House (text)

  Engrossed in House · EN

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Passed House amended

  summary · EN · 5 June 1990

  Open at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 20 June 1989

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-26] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Bates, Jim [D-CA-44] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Moorhead, Carlos J. [R-CA-22] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Coble, Howard [R-NC-6] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Weiss, Ted [D-NY-17] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Hughes, William J. [D-NJ-2] · D · Cosponsor
• PETER DEFAZIO · D · Cosponsor
• · hsju00 · Standing

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.