On December 18, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced the appointment of Maria Strong to the position of Acting Register of Copyrights. The appointment follows the announcement of the resignation of the current Register of Copyrights Karen Temple, effective January 5. As Associate Register of Copyrights and director of Policy and International Affairs, Strong has assisted the Register with domestic and international policy analyses, legislative support, and trade negotiations. Her appointment has been widely welcomed by stakeholders.

In her statement announcing the appointment, Haydn wrote ““Maria has had a stellar career here in the Copyright Office, and we are confident that she will ably guide the office and continue to advance its many ongoing initiatives like modernization while we undertake the search for a permanent appointee.” Strong’s appointment was also applauded by Temple, who wrote, ““Maria Strong is an extremely talented lawyer and manager, and I have greatly enjoyed working with her over the years. She will serve the Copyright Office and the public well during this transition.”

Strong has been with the Copyright Office for a decade. She was appointed Associate Register in April 2019. Prior to that, she served as deputy director of policy and international affairs for the Copyright Office  (2015-2019, acting general counsel (2013), and senior counsel for policy and international affairs (2010). Her career at the Copyright Office followed 19 years in private practice in Washington, DC.

Strong will be filling the role of Acting Register while the Librarian of Congress, Carla Haydn, conducts a search for a replacement for Temple. Temple is leaving the Copyright Office after only nine months in the position of Register of Copyrights. She has accepted the position of global general counsel for the Motion Picture Association.