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HR 3204 102th Congress House Commerce Administrative procedure Auditing Business intelligence Civil actions and liability Commercial arbitration Copyright Copyright infringement Copyright royalties Damages Electronic industries Entertainers Foreign Trade and International Finance Government paperwork Government trust funds Imports Injunctions Legal fees Music Phonorecords

Audio Home Recording Act of 1991

Introduced: August 2, 1991 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 102nd Congress ended
It never became law before the 102nd Congress (1991–1992) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 25 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 22, 1992
Laid on the table. See S. 1623 for further action.
Sep 22, 1992
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Sep 22, 1992
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 22, 1992
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Sep 22, 1992
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Sep 22, 1992
Considered under suspension of the rules.
Sep 22, 1992
Mr. Brooks moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Sep 21, 1992
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 102-873, Part II.
Sep 17, 1992
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 102-873, Part I.
Sep 16, 1992
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 16, 1992
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Sep 10, 1992
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 10, 1992
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).
Aug 11, 1992
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Aug 11, 1992
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Jul 31, 1992
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 31, 1992
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).
Feb 19, 1992
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Aug 30, 1991
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Competitiveness.
Aug 13, 1991
Referred to the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and Judicial Administration.
Aug 2, 1991
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Aug 2, 1991
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Aug 2, 1991
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Aug 2, 1991
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Aug 2, 1991
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

What's happening now September 22, 1992

Laid on the table. See S. 1623 for further action.

 Related & companion bills 3
  • S 1623 Identical bill Audio Home Recording Act of 1992
  • HR 4567 Procedurally related Audio Home Recording Act of 1992
  • HR 5982 Procedurally related Audio Home Recording Act of 1992
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 3
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Mar 3, 1992
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Mar 3, 1992
 D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · Nov 26, 1991
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3204: Audio Home Recording Act of 1992. 102nd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-3204/
MLA
"H.R. 3204: Audio Home Recording Act of 1992." 102nd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-3204/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3204, 102nd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-3204/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3204: Audio Home Recording Act of 1992](https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-3204/)
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