Copyright and the California Coast: The Register of Copyrights’ Annual Address

The Los Angeles Chapter of The Copyright Society of the USA is pleased to invite the copyright and entertainment community to our annual landmark event: “Copyright and the California Coast,”  the annual Los Angeles luncheon address and presentation by our special guest, Maria Strong, Acting Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office. The Acting Register will report on developments in the Copyright Office, including recent policy studies, regulatory matters, and modernization efforts.

Joining the Acting Register will be Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Public Information and Education at the U.S. Copyright Office, Catherine Zaller Rowland, who advises on a full range of policy, communications, and legal issues relating to the Copyright Office. She will join the presentation and provide updates on the Office’s Review Board.

The Copyright Society’s Los Angeles Chapter presents this annual event as an important connection between Washington D.C. and the Copyright Office and the California creative and legal community.

SPEAKERS:

Maria Strong
Acting Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office

Maria Strong is the Acting Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office. She was appointed to the position by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden effective January 5, 2020. Strong had previously served as Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Policy and International Affairs since April 23, 2019. In that position, Strong 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 and providing regular support to Congress and its committees.

Prior to that position, Strong served as Deputy Director of Policy and International Affairs, and 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 to 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 and provided analyses and advocacy on global and domestic issues involving copyright law, enforcement, trade policy, and e-commerce. 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.

Catherine Zaller Rowland
Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Public Information and Education

In her position, Rowland oversees PIE as it provides authoritative information about the copyright law to the public and establishes educational programs. PIE publishes the copyright law and other provisions of Title 17; maintains a robust and accurate public website; creates and distributes a variety of circulars, information sheets, and newsletters, including NewsNet; responds to public inquiries regarding provisions of the law, explains registration policies, procedures, and other copyright-related topics upon request; plans and executes a variety of educational activities; and engages in outreach with various copyright community stakeholders.

Rowland joined the Office in 2010 as attorney-advisor for the Office of the General Counsel. From 2012 to 2015, she served as senior counsel for policy and international affairs. In February 2015, Rowland was appointed senior advisor to the United States Register of Copyrights. In that position, she assisted the Register on a full range of policy, legal, and governance issues relating to the United States Copyright Office and its agency responsibilities. Her duties have included a wide range of statutory and regulatory functions, including assisting with policy studies and rulemakings, representing the United States as a member of intergovernmental delegations at trade negotiations, and co-chairing public hearings.

Before joining the Office, she spent several years in private law practice in Washington, DC, where she represented a variety of companies in intellectual property matters. Rowland began her legal career as a law clerk for the Hon. N. Carlton Tilley Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. Rowland earned her JD from William and Mary Law School, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif. She earned her BA in political science from American University.

Tickets:

CSUSA Members: $45
Non-Members: $55

Luncheon menu includes choice of prime rib, chicken, salmon or veggie pasta.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

Sponsorships for this widely regarded and annually sold out event are available now. In return for their valuable support, sponsors will receive: national and international promotion in CSUSA marketing and announcements as sponsors of a premiere CSUSA event, two free reserved seats and special acknowledgement at the event. Sponsors may also reserve an entire table at no additional cost for their guests with purchased tickets. Please send an email to LA@csusa.org to coordinate seating. Deadline for sponsorship: December 1, 2019.

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