The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences approved a new rule in the Original Song category today, allowing a fourth songwriter for an individual song to be considered in rare and extraordinary circumstances. The rule will be in effect for the upcoming award ceremony in February.
Previously only two songwriters could be eligible per song, with some exceptions made for a third songwriter if all three songwriters made equal contributions to the song.
Other rule changes were made in the Foreign Language, Makeup and Visual Effects categories and can be reviewed here.
The 85th Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood, California, on Sunday, February 24, 2013. The ceremony will be broadcast on ABC and televised live in more than 225 countries.