According to the official Academy Awards website, the new rule sets a limit on the number of songs that can be nominated per film: no more than two songs per film can be nominated for an Oscar. The rule, however, does not set any limit on the number of songs that may be submitted for consideration.

In recent years three songs from both "Enchanted" and "Dreamgirls" were nominated in the Original Song category.

The Academy also announced that "in addition to the annual screening event at which members of the Music Branch view clips featuring the eligible songs as they appear in the films and vote, DVDs of those same clips will be made available to branch members who are unable to attend the screening; ballots will accompany the DVDs and must be returned by mail. Music Branch members who have one or more songs in contention for nominations do not vote in that phase of the balloting. They remain eligible to vote on the final ballot to select the winner."

The nominations for the Academy Awards will be announced Jan. 22, 2009. The 81st Academy Awards will be telecast live on ABC Feb. 22, 2009.

Complete rules for all categories can be viewed by visiting www.oscars.org/rules.