Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden has appointed Shira Perlmutter as the 14th Register of Copyrights.
Perlmutter will start in late October and assumes leadership of the organization during its 150th year.
Maria Strong, who has served as acting Register since January 2020, will return to her role as Associate Register of Copyrights for Policy and International Affairs.
Perlmutter has served as Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) since 2012.
There, she worked in all areas of intellectual property, including copyright.
She was a liaison for the USPTO to other agencies including the US Copyright Office, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) and the US Department of State.
At USPTO, Perlmutter guided the work of teams of policy experts, the Office of the Chief Economist and the IP Attaché program.
She also oversaw the development and implementation of training and outreach plans, and served as lead author on significant Department of Commerce papers on copyright issues.
Perlmutter co-led the US delegations that negotiated two copyright treaties at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), including the Marrakesh Treaty and the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performance.
She engaged with multiple copyright stakeholders, including author organizations, copyright industries, technology companies, consumers, libraries and academics.
Prior to USPTO, she served as the Executive Vice President for Global Legal Policy in London at global trade body for the recorded music industry, IFPI.
There, she was responsible for the development and global coordination of policy positions on copyright, trade, and other legal issues for six years.
“Shira brings to this role a deep knowledge of domestic and international copyright law and policy and a background in negotiating international intellectual property agreements.”
Carla Hayden, Library of Congress
Perlmutter also previously served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Intellectual Property Policy, for Time Warner Inc. As Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, she oversaw the development of positions on domestic and international copyright issues associated with the provision of creative content and journalism, as well as online services.
From 1995 through 1999, Perlmutter served as the Associate Register for Policy and International Affairs at the US Copyright Office.
In that role, she advised Congress and the Administration on copyright and related matters, including the 1998 DMCA to implement international treaties and address the challenges of digital technologies.
She prepared congressional testimony and responses to congressional inquiries and was the lead author of a report on digital distance learning that resulted in amendment of the Copyright Act.
Carla Hayden said: “I am pleased to announce that Shira Perlmutter will serve as the 14th United States Register of Copyrights.
“Shira brings to this role a deep knowledge of domestic and international copyright law and policy and a background in negotiating international intellectual property agreements.
“She has experience working with a wide range of stakeholders and finding common ground on complex issues.”
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead the U.S. Copyright Office during its 150th year.”
Shira Perlmutter
Shira Perlmutter said: “I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead the U.S. Copyright Office during its 150th year.
“I look forward to working with Dr. Hayden and rejoining the dedicated staff of the Copyright Office on its mission of promoting the creation and dissemination of works of authorship, to the benefit of the American public.”Music Business Worldwide
