§701 The Copyright Office: General responsibilities and organization

Summary

The Register of Copyrights runs the Copyright Office and is in charge of most duties under the copyright law. The Librarian of Congress appoints the Register and the office staff, and the Register works under the Librarian’s supervision. The Register must advise Congress, help federal agencies and courts on copyright matters, take part in international meetings (including joining U.S. delegations when the Executive branch allows), carry out studies and educational programs about copyright, and do other jobs Congress directs or that support these duties. The Register must create a seal to authenticate certified Copyright Office documents used on and after January 1, 1978. The Register must send an annual report on the office’s work to the Librarian of Congress; that report is published on its own and as part of the Librarian’s annual report. Most actions by the Register follow the Administrative Procedure Act of June 11, 1946, except where section 706(b) and its rules say otherwise. The Register’s pay is the higher of level III of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5314) or the top basic pay under 5 U.S.C. 5376 for covered agencies. The Librarian may create up to four Associate Register positions after consulting the Register, and their pay is set under 5 U.S.C. 5376.