[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 197 (Thursday, December 13, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    REGISTER OF COPYRIGHTS SELECTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I am placing a hold on S. 1010, the 
Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act of 2017, out of 
deep concern for the implications of this bill for the Copyright Office 
and its administration of U.S. copyright laws. The Constitution 
delegates to Congress the power to ``promote the progress of science 
and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors 
the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.'' 
Currently, the Librarian of Congress appoints the Register, who acts 
under the Librarian's direction. The Librarian is uniquely positioned 
to bring to bear the interest of the public and concerns around freedom 
of speech, scholarship, access for the disabled and other societal 
values, as well as incentivizing creators to continue to innovate and 
produce new works.
  At certain times, I have been deeply concerned that rights holders 
have seemed to capture the Copyright Office. Politicizing the 
appointment of the Register and reducing the influence of the Librarian 
would only cement that tendency. The voice of the public will always be 
more diffuse than those with vested interest in locking up works for as 
long as possible. Congress must ensure that all voices are heard, and 
the structure of the Copyright Office is integral to achieving that 
goal. Again, this is Congress's responsibility, and ceding ever more 
power to the Executive, as this bill does, over matters within our 
purview is an abdication of our responsibility which I believe we will 
regret.
  For these reasons, I have placed a hold on S. 1010, and I encourage 
my colleagues to give serious consideration to the concerns I have 
expressed about this bill.

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