CRB 'Will Not Entertain' Distribution Filings on Depleted DART Funds 'Until Further Notice'

The Copyright Royalty Board said Friday it “will not entertain filings related to distribution” of the Digital Audio Recording Technology (DART) Musical Works and Sound Recordings royalty funds “until further notice.” The DART funds are now “depleted,” with royalties qualifying for the DART fund having “declined dramatically” during 2016, CRB said. The funds are so depleted the royalty amounts “deposited are insufficient to cover the costs of managing the DART funds and subfunds and distributing royalties to claimants,” the board said. Ongoing litigation on its interpretation of DART provisions in the Copyright Act “might result in additional royalty deposits in the future,” CRB said. Parties intending to claim DART royalties for 2017 and beyond should continue to file timely claims, with the window for 2017 claims Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 2018, CRB said.