Unprecedented Removal of Register of Copyrights Causes Consternation in Copyright Community

authorsguild.org ^ | OCTOBER 24, 2016 | No Byline

[ransomnote]

Full Title: Unprecedented Removal of Register of Copyrights Causes Consternation in Copyright Community

Maria Pallante, the Register of Copyrights and Director of the United States Copyright Office, submitted her resignation today, after being abruptly removed and transferred from office last Friday by Dr. Carla Hayden, the new Librarian of Congress, who was sworn in just weeks ago. According to a statement issued by the Library of Congress, Hayden transferred Pallante to a newly created non-managerial position within the Library, Senior Advisor for Digital Strategy. Karyn Temple Claggett, an Associate Register, was appointed Acting Register of Copyrights, effective immediately.

We are disappointed to see Pallante go. She was a devoted leader of the Copyright Office, launching several major initiatives—including a full review of the Copyright Act to bring it into the 21st Century, and the modernization of the Copyright Office to better serve the evolving needs of digital-era Copyright Office constituents—initiatives that took great vision and courage. She also oversaw a full review of and set of recommendations for bringing the Office’s technology into the 21st Century; she shored up copyright registration practices and created a comprehensive online guide to registration and recordation—the 2014 Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, Third Edition—which was the first wholesale revision of the Compendium in 30 years.

[ransomnote]

I didn't think much of this other than that it was "odd" and then I read the comments about it on a few websites. Some of the comments suggest that something is heading toward that office and she refused to decide the matter the administration wanted it. Then I looked back at "copyright" and wondered about the Clinton team's assertion that the emails were 'stolen.' I've seen otherwise normal debates among talking heads taking place and team clinton will pause and say, momentously "by the way, these emails were STOLEN..." as if that would change anything. Not that they weren't true but that they were stolen. I thought at the time it was Clinton's attempt to shame her media into silence because the public wouldn't be impressed by the stance. Now with the copyright thing - I am wondering if Clinton's team will try to shush her media darlings with copyright . That or some other wacky thing - something they want to charge Trump with etc. Something's weird and I question the timing.

[MarchonDC09122009]

Copyright Registry changes are taking place to prepare for upcoming passage of TPP.

The Trouble with the TPP, Day 10: Criminalization of Trade Secret ...

www.michaelgeist.ca/2016/01/the-trouble-with-the-tpp-...

Jan 15, 2016 ... While rules for patents and copyright seek to strike a balance between ... The TPP dramatically changes trade secret law by also requiring criminal ... In addition to the concerns about criminalization, Professor Jeremy deBeer ...
The White House Doesn’t Want You to Know the TPP’s Looming ...

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/02/white-house-doe...

Feb 25, 2015 ... This followed a speech by the Register of Copyrights, Maria Pallante, ... The TPP almost completely mirrors US law criminalizing acts of getting ...

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

The appointment of this new librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, was pushed by the militant Left. She is the first African American Library of Congress. Hayden transferred this woman, who seems to have been doing a great job. There’s likely a political goal or goals here.

[Weirdad]

BTTT. Great post, great comments so far, important by itself and as an example of the attempted takeover of everything before the lame duck flops.

Change this, and all similar fascist sleeper cells planted by Obama ASAP when our revived USA starts to move anew 1/20/2017.

[thoughtomator]

This is the point where we need to do some brainstorming to figure out how the Copyright Office can be politically suborned.

Because whatever method that is, that’s their plan.

[dadfly]

bookmark

[rlmorel]

She is less than an affirmative action hire. She is a combination nepotism hire and an affirmative action hire:

In the 1970s and ’80s, Hayden worked in various positions within the Chicago Public Library system and at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. During that time, according to the statement released by the White House announcing her nomination, she got to know and became friends with Barack and Michelle Obama.

Hired on the basis of the color of her skin, and her friendship with the Obamas.

[Organic Panic]

She refused to alter and create information beneficial to the Obama regime. That’s my guess

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[monkeyshine]

I think it might have something to do with pirated films and music, and I suppose books and even blog posts. In some countries, such as the UK, the government is empowered to prosecute copyright infringers on behalf of copyright holders. If someone downloaded 1000 movies from a torrent site, the government could fine that person tens of thousand of pounds, the cost of buying each film, and give that money to the film distributors/owners. In the US, copyright holders have to pursue their own cases of infringement one by one. And most websites that host the pirated films are immune from prosecution under the digital act Clinton signed. I can see where the Democrat’s major patrons in entertainment would love to be able to use the government to enforce copyrights for them. Government has abilities such as the use of force, ability to obtain warrants and wiretaps, etc that copyright holders don’t have.

[Gene Eric]

bmk

[Chgogal]

fl

[Stayfree]

This is no accident, and especially the timing of this kind of move suggests something very sinister. Please dear Freepers keep on top of this...it smells bad!!!!!!!!!!

[Just mythoughts]

Thoughts?

[Faith65]

Good find!

[Carriage Hill]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DcATG9Qy_A

“It’s illegal to possess these stolen documents - it’s different for the media - so everything you’re learning, you’re learning from us.”

- Chris “Fredo” Cuomo,
The Cuomo Organized Crime Family

[Cboldt]

First I read of it. First impression - all of a couple minutes of thought. At worst, no more nefarious than travelgate and other firings of competent people so the leader can give a favor to a crony. At the other end of the spectrum, this one, being a resignation, may be nothing more than she's tired of the job and baggage that comes with it.

[Just mythoughts]

Thanks.

[Roccus]

At the other end of the spectrum, this one, being a resignation, may be nothing more than she's tired of the job and baggage that comes with it.

If I read the article correctly, she retired AFTER being removed from office and upon being placed in a non-authoritative and previously non-existant position.

[moovova]

"I'm not saying it was an Affirmative Action hire, but..."

"...it was an Affirmative Action hire."