Copyright Alliance Applauds Introduction ofξRegister of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act (H.R. 1695) and Urges Prompt Consideration

PRESS RELEASE

Bill Represents Important First Step in Reforming U.S. Copyright Office by Making the Register of Copyrights a Presidential Appointee Confirmed by the Senates

Washington, D.C.  March 23, 2017 Today, the Copyright Alliance applauded the introduction of the Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act (H.R. 1695) – legislation that would make the Register of Copyrights a presidential appointee confirmed by the Senate – introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Ranking Member John Conyers.

According to Copyright Alliance CEO Keith Kupferschmid, “The Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act represents an important first step in the efforts to modernize the U.S. Copyright Office. Few government offices are more essential to the economy, jobs and creativity in the United States than the U.S. Copyright Office. This bill, which is the result of over four years of copyright policy hearings held by the House Judiciary Committee, demonstrates the growing importance and the need for a more prominent role for the position of Register of Copyrights. Making the Register position a presidential appointment confirmed by the Senate has the additional benefit of ensuring a more balanced and neutral selection process compared to the existing process, which does not require any direct input from the Administration or Congress.”

Kupferschmid added, “We thank Chairman Goodlatte, Ranking Member Conyers and the 29 co-sponsors for introducing this legislation and urge its prompt consideration by the Judiciary Committee. While this legislation is considered, it’s imperative for the Librarian of Congress to pause her process for selecting a new Register of Copyrights so that Congress has sufficient time to consider this important legislation.”

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ABOUT THE COPYRIGHT ALLIANCE

The Copyright Alliance is a non-profit, non-partisan public interest and educational organization representing the copyright interests of over 1.8 million individual creators and over 13,000 organizations in the United States, across the spectrum of copyright disciplines. The Copyright Alliance is dedicated to advocating policies that promote and preserve the value of copyright, and to protecting the rights of creators and innovators. For more information, please visit www.copyrightalliance.org.

For media inquiries, contact:

Eileen Bramlet

VP Communications

ebramlet@copyrightalliance.org

571.228.1906

You can download the pdf version of this statement here.