Audio Home Recording Act of 1992

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

1 August 1991

Last action

28 October 1992 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 102-563.

Summary

Audio Home Recording Act of 1991 - Amends Federal copyright law to: (1) set forth definitions relating to digital audio recording devices and media; and (2) prohibit certain copyright infringement actions based on the manufacture, importation, or distribution of a digital or analog audio recording device or medium, or the use of such device or medium for making phonorecords, except when done for commercial advantage. Sets forth a mandatory recordation and filing procedure for the importation, manufacture, or distribution in the United States 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). Mandates Register verification of such statements. Sets forth verification guidelines. States that verification audit costs shall be borne by interested copyright parties. Sets forth confidentiality guidelines with respect to such mandatory statements of accounts. Prescribes royalty payment guidelines for digital audio recording devices and media 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. Permits alternative royalty collection and distribution arrangements to be negotiated among interested copyright and manufacturing parties. Maintains the Copyright Tribunal jurisdiction over such negotiated arrangements insofar as nonparticipant interests are affected. Prohibits: (1) the importation, manufacture, and distribution of any digital audio recording device or audio interface device that does not conform to certain standards and specifications to implement the Serial Copy Management System; and (2) the circumvention of such System. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to publish in the Federal Register a certain Technical Reference Document which sets forth the standards and specifications pertinent to the Serial Copy Management System. Authorizes the Secretary to implement such System according to the prescribed guidelines. Sets forth civil remedies for violations of this Act, including impoundment, remedial modification and destruction of non-complying devices, and binding arbitration.

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

Timeline

1 August 1991
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
1 August 1991
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
29 August 1991
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks.
Source: Committee
29 October 1991
Committee
Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 102-908.
Source: Committee
21 November 1991
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Source: Committee
27 November 1991
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 389.
Source: Calendars
27 November 1991
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Source: Committee
27 November 1991
Reported
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Source: Committee
9 June 1992
Floor
By Senator Biden from Committee on Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 102-294.
Source: Floor
9 June 1992
Committee
By Senator Biden from Committee on Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 102-294.
Source: Committee
17 June 1992
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
17 June 1992
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
24 June 1992
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
24 June 1992
Floor
Held at the desk.
Source: Floor
24 June 1992
Floor
Received in the House.
Source: Floor
22 September 1992
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
22 September 1992
Floor
A similar measure H.R. 3204 was laid on the table without objection.
Source: Floor
22 September 1992
Passed
On passage Passed without objection.
Source: Floor
22 September 1992
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.
Source: Floor
22 September 1992
Passed
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.
Source: Floor
22 September 1992
Floor
Considered by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
22 September 1992
Floor
Mr. Brooks asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
Source: Floor
24 September 1992
Floor
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
Source: Floor
7 October 1992
Passed
Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
7 October 1992
Passed
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: NotUsed
9 October 1992
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
20 October 1992
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
20 October 1992
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
28 October 1992
Became law
Became Public Law No: 102-563.
Source: President
28 October 1992
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
28 October 1992
President
Signed by President.
Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Engrossed Amendment House · — · Download file
Enrolled Bill · — · Download file
Engrossed in Senate · — · Download file
Introduced in Senate · — · Download file
Reported to Senate · — · Download file

Documents

10 official files

Reported to Senate (text)

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Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN
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Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN
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Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN
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Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN
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Engrossed Amendment House (text)
Engrossed Amendment House · EN
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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 29 October 1992
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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 22 September 1992
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Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 17 June 1992
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Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 27 November 1991
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 1 August 1991
Open at official source
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Related records

related to → Audio Home Recording Act of 1992
amends ← In the nature of substitute.

Related across the Repo ecosystem

Direct relationships are identifier-backed. Topic context means shared TopicMembership — not a citation and not causation.

Direct relationships

Legal framework · Audio Home Recording Act of 1992 · S. 1623 (102nd) · US

Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM
Same us record 102-s-1623 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.
Audio Home Recording Act of 1992

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/102nd-congress/senate-bill/1623
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/102/s/1623
us · 102-s-1623 · source updated 10 August 2026