In the year 2000, the definition of a "device" with regard to mechanical royalties was expanded to include..

In the year 2000, the definition of a "device" with regard to mechanical royalties was expanded to include digital audio transmission systems and digital phonorecord deliveries. This was a significant change because it meant that royalties could now be collected for music that was streamed or downloaded online, not just for physical copies of music like CDs or vinyl records.

Here are the steps to understand this:

1. Understand the context: Mechanical royalties are a type of payment that music creators receive when their music is reproduced in some way. This could be through physical copies like CDs, or through digital means like streaming.

2. Understand the original definition: Before 2000, the definition of a "device" for mechanical royalties was limited to physical means of reproducing music.

3. Understand the change: In 2000, the definition was expanded to include digital audio transmission systems and digital phonorecord deliveries. This means that any system or device that can transmit audio digitally, or any system or device that can deliver phonorecords (a technical term for sound recordings) digitally, is now considered a "device" for the purposes of mechanical royalties.

4. Understand the implications: This change meant that music creators could now collect mechanical royalties for music that was streamed or downloaded online. This was a significant expansion of the potential sources of income for music creators.