H.R. 1695 Introduces Major Reforms to the U.S. Copyright Office

A bill was formally introduced in Congress on March 23, 2017, that would, in effect, remove the Copyright Office from the oversight of the Librarian of Congress. Introduced by House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte of Virginia and Ranking Member John Conyers of Michigan, H.R. 1695 seeks to amend 17 U.S.C. § 701 and change the way the Register of Copyrights is appointed. Rather than continuing to be a direct hire of the Librarian of Congress, the Register of Copyrights would, under the new legislation, be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Under the current law, the Register is appointed by, and serves at the sole discretion of, the Librarian of Congress, under whose purview the Copyright Office falls. The proposed Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act limits the Register to a 10-year term that is renewable by another presidential nomination and Senate confirmation. The new act would also give the president the authority to