A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Visual Artists Copyright Reform Act of 2025 (VACRA) aims to reform copyright laws specifically for visual artists. It modifies the deposit requirements for pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works to allow for electronic copies. The bill establishes regulations for third-party registries of photographs to maintain electronic copies and searchable databases. It also introduces provisions for the group registration of photographs by a single individual author. Additionally, the act creates a system for the deferred registration of various visual works. Finally, it implements changes to registration fees, including the potential for subscriptions and reduced rates for individuals.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +6
Does this make patent and copyright rules fairer?
The bill modernizes copyright processes by allowing electronic deposits and group registrations for visual artists.
- Scored +5
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill directs the Register to provide reduced fees for small business entities.
- Scored +5
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill directs the Register to provide reduced fees for small business entities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Simplified Deposit Requirements: The bill exempts pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works from certain deposit requirements, allowing for a single complete electronic copy instead (Section 2).
-
Enhanced Access via Third-Party Registries: Certified third-party registries must provide a secure, searchable database of deposited photographs at no charge to searchers (Section 2, Sec. 711(a)(2)(C)).
-
Efficient Group Registration: The bill allows a single author to register a group of up to 3,000 photographs through one application and fee, which can be scaled up as technology improves (Section 3).
-
Deferred Registration Options: Artists can utilize deferred registration by submitting an application and fee first, with the effective date of registration being the date materials are submitted (Section 4).
-
Improved Digital Interface: The Register of Copyrights is tasked with maintaining a public-facing interface that works with software used by professional creators to automatically transmit deposits and information (Section 5).
-
Financial Relief for Creators: The bill directs the Register to provide reduced fees for individual authors and small business entities (Section 7).
-
Subscription Models: The act establishes regulations for yearly and periodic registration subscriptions for pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works, which can remove the need for individual application fees during the subscription term (Section 7).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Registry Obligations: Entities seeking to be certified as third-party registries must commit to several specific responsibilities, including collecting and maintaining electronic copies and related information for the entire duration of copyright protection (Section 2, Sec. 711(a)(2)(A-B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill directs the Register to provide reduced fees for small business entities. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides for reduced registration fees for individual authors. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill provides for reduced registration fees for individual authors.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make patent and copyright rules fairer? — The bill modernizes copyright processes by allowing electronic deposits and group registrations for visual artists.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill directs the Register to provide reduced fees for small business entities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates the creation of secure, searchable databases for photograph deposits available at no charge to searchers.
- 12/17/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont