JDG completes search for the 14th Register of Copyrights for the Library of Congress

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden today announced her selection of Shira Perlmutter as the 14^th Register of Copyrights.  Ms. Perlmutter will step into the role of Register of Copyrights in late October and will assume leadership of the organization during its 150^th year.

Ms. Perlmutter has served since 2012 as Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), working in all areas of intellectual property, including copyright. She was a liaison for the USPTO to other agencies including the U.S. Copyright Office, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. 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, oversaw the development and implementation of training and outreach plans, and served as lead author on significant Department of Commerce papers on copyright issues. She co-led the U.S. delegations that negotiated two copyright treaties at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), notably 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 at the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry in London, United Kingdom, where she was responsible for the development and international coordination of policy positions on copyright, trade, and other legal issues for six years.

She 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 – 1999, Ms. Perlmutter served as the Associate Register for Policy and International Affairs at the U.S. Copyright Office. In that role she advised Congress and the Administration on copyright and related matters, including changes to the Copyright Act 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.

Perlmutter began her career working for two different private law firms, developing a specialty in copyright and trademark law.

For a number of years, she was on the faculty of The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law, teaching copyright and trademark law as well as international intellectual property. She continues to serve on the boards of several organizations that focus on intellectual property issues and is a frequent writer and speaker on the subject.

She earned a B.A. degree from Harvard University and a J.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.