August 12, 1993
Contact: Helen Dalrymple (202) 707-1940
Jill Brett (202) 707-2905
Register of Copyrights Ralph Oman Resigns
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has accepted the
resignation of Register of Copyrights Ralph Oman, effective January
8, 1994. In a letter to the Register, the Librarian noted Mr.
Oman's contributions to the Copyright Office and to the
international copyright community, and offered him best wishes as
he moves on to other endeavors.
Until January 8, Mr. Oman will continue to hold the title of
Register of Copyrights, but will be responsible for international
copyright matters. Mary Berghaus Levering, Executive Director of
the Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC), will
be detailed to the Copyright Office and will be responsible for the
operation of the office in accordance with the provisions of the
Copyright Code. She will work with acting Deputy Librarian of
Congress Daniel Mulhollan in advising Congress on the need for
changes in legislation and will serve on the Management Team.
All managers and staff in the Copyright Office will report to Ms.
Levering, who has agreed to serve in this capacity until January 8,
by which time, the Librarian announced, he hopes to have named a
new Register of Copyrights. If he has not, he will appoint an
acting Register. A nationwide search will be conducted for a new
Register of Copyrights.
Ms. Levering is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and
a member of the D.C. bar and the Supreme Court bar. She is also a
professional librarian and information specialist, a graduate with
distinction from the University of Washington's Graduate School of
Library and Information Science, which in 1986 chose her as its
Distinguished Alumnus. During the past 28 years, she has worked in
four major areas at the Library--Collections Services, the
Congressional Research Service, the National Library Service for
the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and FLICC.
Mr. Oman was named Register of Copyrights by Librarian of Congress
Daniel J. Boorstin on September 23, 1985. He was formerly chief
counsel of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary's
Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks.
Mr. Oman received a bachelor of arts degree in history from
Hamilton College in 1962 and a doctor of laws degree in corporate
and international law from Georgetown University in 1973. From
1962 to 1964, he served as a foreign service officer with the U.S.
Department of State. He served in the U.S. Navy as a flight
officer from 1965 to 1970. He was a press aide to Senator Hugh
Scott in 1970 and a legislative aide to Senator William Roth in
1972. He was a trial attorney from 1974 to 1975 and again in 1977
with the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division. In
announcing his resignation to the staff of the Copyright Office,
Mr. Oman stated his intention to return to the private practice of
law.
The U.S. Copyright Office is responsible for administering the
copyright law in the public interest, advising Congress concerning
copyright matters, serving as principal advisory to the U.S.
government on national and international copyright matters,
accepting or rejecting claims to copyright, and managing the
Copyright Office, one of the principal elements of the Library of
Congress. Copyright deposit is a major source of the Library's
vast collections. The estimated value of the materials received
annually through copyright deposit is $12 million.
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PR 93-105
8/12/93
ISSN 0731-3527