CONYERS & GOODLATTE Statement On The Resignation Of Maria Pallante

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) today issued the following joint statement after the announcement that Maria Pallante, the former Register of Copyrights, will be leaving the U.S. Copyright Office:

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“We are saddened to learn that Maria Pallante, who served with distinction as only the 12th Register of Copyrights and the Director of the Copyright Office for the last five years, will be leaving the Copyright Office.  This will be a tremendous loss for the Copyright Office and for America’s creators, innovators, and users of copyrighted works.

“We have had the pleasure of working closely with Maria over the last few years as the House Judiciary Committee conducted a comprehensive review of U.S. copyright law to determine whether the law is still working in the digital age to reward creativity and innovation.  Maria has played an instrumental role in the Committee’s efforts.   We have welcomed her thoughtful testimony on copyright law and policy a number of times and closely studied the reports produced by her office.

“As Maria transitions from the Copyright Office, it is the perfect opportunity to examine the selection process for the new Register.  America’s creativity is the envy of the world and the Copyright Office is at the center of it.  We must ensure that any new Register is fully qualified to lead this important office as it continues to directly advise Congress on copyright policy and law.  The new Register of Copyrights should be dedicated to protecting creative rights and modernizing the Copyright Office.”

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Register of Copyrights Names Associate Register for Policy and International Affairs

Register of Copyrights Names Associate Register for Policy and International Affairs

Register of Copyrights Maria A. Pallante has named Michele Woods to the position of Associate Register for Policy and International Affairs. The appointment was effective on October 23, 2011. Woods has extensive experience in both domestic and international copyright policy, including through prior positions with the U.S. Copyright Office. She has headed the Office of Policy and International Affairs for the past year on an acting basis, and before that served as Senior Counsel for Policy and International Affairs from March 2009 to October 2010.

"The position of associate register is a critical position within the Copyright Office and the greater copyright community," Pallante said. "Michele’s talents and experience are tremendous assets to the office and greatly appreciated by all who work with her."

The Office of Policy and International Affairs (PIA) is responsible for an important portfolio of copyright matters that includes analysis and support on copyright legislation, policy studies, and review of foreign copyright laws. Enforcement and anti-piracy efforts are also an important focus for PIA attorneys, who frequently serve on U.S. delegations to international organizations and in trade and other international negotiations with foreign governments.

Prior to joining the Copyright Office, Woods was in private practice in Washington, D.C., most recently from 2000 to 2009 as counsel in the Intellectual Property and Technology group at Arnold & Porter LLP. Her copyright practice included a wide range of domestic and international copyright policy, legislative, litigation and counseling matters. Woods litigated extensively and appeared before numerous United States federal courts, the Copyright Office, the Copyright Royalty Board, the former Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panels and the Copyright Royalty Tribunal. She was also with the law firm of Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C.

Woods received both her J.D. and LL.M (in International and Comparative Law) degrees from the Duke University School of Law. She received an A.B. from Princeton University and a Master of Studies from Oxford University. Since 2003, she has been an adjunct professor at the Catholic University Columbus School of Law, where she teaches an upper-level seminar on international intellectual property.

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