The following is a guest post by Brad Greenberg, counsel in the U.S. Copyright Office, Office of Policy and International Affairs. Copyright law and new technologies have a long history, arguably dating back to the Gutenberg Press in the 15th century—more than 200 years before passage of the matriarch of copyright statutes, Britain’s Statute of …
As a teenager during the 1970s, I put on my bell-bottom pants and shiny shirt to groove to the latest disco hits. I was not alone. Disco culture was highly popular and spawned a vast array of music, dance, and fashion. The records of the U.S. Copyright Office show many thousands of registrations for the …
Today is World IP Day, and as Acting Register of Copyrights, I had the honor and pleasure of hosting a program featuring remarks and a panel discussion focusing on the impact of creative works and performances on the lives of both creators and the public. Here are my remarks from today’s event. We are pleased …
The following is a guest post by Rachel E. Fertig, a 2015–2017 Barbara A. Ringer Copyright Honors Fellow, serving as an attorney-advisor in the Office of General Counsel and Office of Policy & International Affairs. The Supreme Court’s March 22 opinion in Star Athletica, LLC v. Varsity Brands, Inc. answered a question that has perplexed …
On March 1, the Copyright Office launched its updated website, www.copyright.gov. The goal of the update was to make the site more user-focused. In order to do so, we surveyed users of the old website, reviewed questions the Public Information Office received, and talked to industry experts. The most common requests were for a …
Welcome to the U.S. Copyright Office Blog! Over the years, a lot has been said about the U.S. Copyright Office. But what are we REALLY like? With this inaugural blog post for 2017, I would like to reintroduce you to the Copyright Office and the work we do. In future posts, our blog will provide …