Head of US Copyright Office Removed

From the Illustrators Partnership 

Head of US Copyright Office Removed

October 23, 2016

Last Friday, the head of the US Copyright Office was removed in a surprise action by the newly-appointed Librarian of Congress.


According to the entertainment industry newspaper Variety:

"Maria Pallante is out at [sic] the U.S. Register of Copyrights and is moving to a new post, a Friday announcement that was met with surprise by trade associations and other groups in Washington. The change was made by Carla Hayden...who was only recently confirmed as Librarian of Congress."

"Pallante was locked out of her computer [Friday] morning," reports Billboard, citing "two sources who spoke with Library employees."


"Earlier, Hayden had called several members of Congress to tell them about her decision. Later, she called the heads of several media business trade organizations to give them the news, according to one who received such a call...Hayden, as the librarian of Congress, has the authority to make a new appointment without congressional review."

The website Trichordist: Artists for an Ethical and Sustainable Internet warns that:

"These are dark days for all creators and copyright holders. After a two month campaign by Google funded astroturf group Public Knowledge, the newly appointed librarian of congress Carla Hayden [an advocate of "open sourcing"] has fired Maria Pallante the register of copyright. Pallante was the only one standing between Google and what is left of the copyright system.

"This firing is virtually unprecedented in US history. The Librarian of Congress generally leaves the Register of Copyrights to run the affairs of the copyright office. However in the last two months the main Google mouthpiece in Washington DC Public Knowledge has been clamoring for her head."

More details at Artist Rights Watch.






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