U.S. Register of Copyrights Marybeth Peters To Retire

Marybeth Peters, who has served as the Register of Copyrights for the U.S. Copyright Office, the highest position at the office, has announced her intention to retire. Peters has served as the Register of Copyrights since 1994, where she succeeded, Barbara Ringer, who was the then acting Register.

Peters’ retirement caps off a 45-year term of service to the U.S. Copyright Office. She started with the USCO in 1965 where she worked as a shelflister in the processing department. She then became an examiner and promoted to the position of chief of examining division in 1980. She also served as the acting general counsel for the USCO 1993-1994, before being given the job of Register.

Outside the USCO, Peters served as a consultant on copyright law to the World Intellectual Property Organization in 1989-1990.

Peters has been very active during her tenure traveling and giving lectures to schools and organizations across the world. She has become one of the best-known and most-respected voices in copyright, both domestically and internationally.

The U.S. Copyright Office has posted a vacancy for the position on their site, inviting others to apply for the position.