July 29, 1994

Contact: Helen Dalrymple (202) 707-1940
Jill Brett (202) 707-2905

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Marybeth Peters Named New Register of Copyrights

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today announced the appointment of Marybeth Peters to the position of Associate Librarian for Copyright Services and Register of Copyrights, effective August 7.

"I am pleased to have someone with Ms. Peters' skill and experience assume the direction of the Copyright Office and add her talents and expertise to the Library's Management Team," said Dr. Billington in announcing the appointment.

"I am charging the new Register with focusing the unique abilities of the staff within the Copyright Office to be more responsive to the needs of the broader copyright community, the Library, and the nation, and to take a clear leadership role in addressing the intellectual property issues associated with the new electronic age," said the Librarian. "I am also asking Ms. Peters to develop a one-year plan to increase the diversity of the Copyright Office."

A 28-year veteran of the Copyright Office, Ms. Peters has served as one of the office's principal authorities on international copyright law in her role since 1983 as a policy planning adviser. In addition to serving as acting General Counsel from December 1993 to April 1994, Ms. Peters' prior positions of responsibility have included service as chief of the Examining Division (1980-1983) and the Information and Reference Division (1977-1980) and work as a senior attorney-adviser in the Office of the General Counsel (1975-1977).

Ms. Peters joined the staff of the Copyright Office as a music examiner in 1966 and was promoted to a senior examiner in 1969. In 1971 Ms. Peters graduated with honors from George Washington University Law School. During 1977 she served as the Copyright Office Training Officer for the 1976 Copyright Act, conducting all educational efforts for the staff and for the office's extensive outreach program. As part of these activities she wrote "The General Guide to the Copyright Act of 1976." Throughout the years she has taught various copyright law courses for employees.

From August 1989 to June 1990 Ms. Peters served as a consultant on copyright law to the director of the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ms. Peters has provided guidance on a wide variety of policy issues related to copyright law and served as a spokesperson for the Copyright Office to members and committees of the U.S. Congress, other governments, and a wide variety of national and international organizations and associations. She has specialized in copyright issues relating to the electronic environment, serving as adviser to various library initiatives, including the Optical Disk Pilot Program. She currently represents the Copyright Office on the Digital Library Coordinating Committee and the Library on the Working Group on Intellectual Property, which is part of the White House Task Force on the National Information Infrastructure.

In addition to her wide-ranging federal service, Ms. Peters is an officer of the Copyright Society of the U.S.A. and a member of the board of directors of the Computer Law Association. She has taught courses on copyright law and related issues at various law schools for more than 17 years, and is currently on the adjunct faculty of Catholic University of America.

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PR 94-123
7/29/94
ISSN 0731-3527