Maria Strong Named Acting Register of Copyrights

Maria Strong has been appointed Acting Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office, effective Jan. 5, 2020. She succeeds Register of Copyrights Karyn A. Temple, who announced last week that she will be leaving the Copyright Office to accept a new position in the private sector.

“I am pleased to announce that Maria Strong has agreed to act as Register of Copyrights,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said. “Maria has had a stellar career here in the Copyright Office, and we are confident that she will ably guide the Office and continue to advance its many ongoing initiatives like modernization while we undertake the search for a permanent appointee.”

Maria Strong

Strong has served as Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Policy and International Affairs since April 23, 2019. In her position, she assisted the Register with critical policy functions of the U.S. Copyright Office, including domestic and international policy analyses, legislative support, and trade negotiations. She directed the Office of Policy and International Affairs, representing the Office at meetings of government officials concerned with the international aspects of copyright protection and enforcement.

Prior to that position, Strong served as deputy director of policy and international affairs since January 2015. Upon joining the Copyright Office in 2010, she served as senior counsel for policy and international affairs and also served as acting general counsel from April-July 2013. Before joining the Office, Strong spent nineteen years in private practice in Washington, DC, where she represented clients in the media, technology, and entertainment sectors. She began her legal career as a staff attorney at the Federal Communications Commission. Strong earned her JD from George Washington University Law School, her MA in communications management from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communications, and her BA in communication studies from UCLA.

“Maria Strong is an extremely talented lawyer and manager, and I have greatly enjoyed working with her over the years. She will serve the Copyright Office and the public well during this transition,” said Temple.

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

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