Bill seeks to make register of copyrights a presidential pick
A Congress committee has introduced a bipartisan bill that would make the register of copyrights a presidential appointee.
Bob Goodlatte, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and ranking member John Conyers introduced the Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act on Thursday, March 23.
The bill is part of the committee’s broader aim to modernise the US Copyright Office to “meet the challenges of the 21st century”.
Back in December last year, Goodlatte announced that the reforms included granting the office autonomy from the Library of Congress.
Currently, the Library of Congress oversees the Copyright Office and the register of copyrights is appointed by the librarian of Congress.
In October 2016, Maria Pallante was removed from her role as register of copyrights and was appointed as senior advisor for digital strategy at the Library of Congress.
However, Pallante refused the new role, with her departure being described as a “tremendous loss” for innovators.
The recently announced bill is the product of months of discussions led by Goodlatte, Conyers, Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley, ranking member Dianne Feinstein, and Senate Judiciary Committee member Patrick Leahy.
“We are pleased to join together in a bipartisan, bicameral effort to make important and necessary improvements to the selection process for the position of register of copyrights,” said the members of the discussions.
Other reforms being considered include introducing public advisory committees, making improvements to the Copyright Office’s systems for data inputs and outputs, and making copyright ownership more transparent.
They added that “time is of the essence” when it comes to the selection process for a new register of copyrights.
“America’s creativity is the envy of the world and the Copyright Office is at the centre of it. With the current register serving only on an acting basis, now is the time to make changes to ensure that future registers are transparent and accountable to Congress,” they said.
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