We’re very excited to announce our third keynote speaker: Maria Pallante, Acting Register of Copyrights at the Library of Congress. In her role as the Acting Register of Copyrights, Maria oversees the registration, policy and other functions of the Copyright Office. In addition to her expertise in copyright law, Maria has a background in writing and visual art, having worked at the Guggenheim Museums and the Authors Guild prior to joining the Library of Congress.
Maria Pallante was appointed Acting Register of Copyrights for the United States effective January 1, 2011. She will serve on an interim basis until the next Register is named and assumes the duties of the position.
Maria is on leave from the Office of the Librarian of Congress, where she has served as Senior Advisor to the Librarian since October 2010. She previously held two senior positions in the U.S. Copyright Office, serving as Associate Register (policy and international affairs) and Deputy General Counsel, respectively, from January 2007 to October 2010.
From 1999-2007, Maria was intellectual property counsel and director of licensing for the worldwide Guggenheim Museums, where she advised on programmatic and business initiatives related to worldwide publishing, product development and branding; the acquisition and exhibition of contemporary art; and the operation of overseas affiliates and licensees. Earlier in her career, she was in private practice in Washington, DC and on the staff of two authors’ organizations in New York, serving first as Assistant Director of the Authors Guild, Inc. and then as Executive Director of the National Writers Union, in each case working on copyright, publishing transactions and freedom of expression issues.
Maria has chaired and served on numerous professional committees, has testified before Congress, and delivered numerous lectures and presentations in the United States and abroad.
