Two members of the House Judiciary Committee are floating draft legislation to elevate the U.S. Copyright Office to the level of an independent federal agency. Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA), Chairman of the Regulatory Reform Subcommittee, and Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), co-chair of the Congressional Creative Rights Caucus, recently released their proposal that would not only give the Copyright Office autonomy under the oversight of Congress but would also make the director of the new agency a position appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Currently, the Copyright Office is based within the Library of Congress, and the top copyright official is appointed by the Librarian of Congress without being subject to Senate confirmation.
By Aaron Mercer, Vice President of Government Relations
Published: June 12, 2015
