Contact: Gayle Osterberg (202)707-0020

September 17, 2012

Librarian of Congress Names Interim Copyright Royalty Judge

James H. Billington, the Librarian of Congress, announced today the appointment of Richard C. Strasser to serve as interim Copyright Royalty Judge. Judge Strasser will serve for a period of six months, or until the Librarian fills the vacancy left by Judge Stanley C. Wisniewski, who retired, effective Aug. 31, 2012.

Copyright Royalty Judges are appointed by the Librarian of Congress in consultation with the Register of Copyrights.

Strasser has been senior staff attorney on the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) since its inception in 2007. Judge Strasser graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in rhetoric, and an M.B.A. His graduate coursework included microeconomics, macroeconomics and finance. Strasser obtained a law degree from the University of Virginia in 1989. While in law school, he served as an editor of the Virginia Law Review.

Strasser has broad experience in economics and finance, including several years at the Securities and Exchange Commission. While at the SEC, he served for a period as Attorney Fellow, focusing on market structure and derivatives. He has published articles dealing with economic and financial analysis.

"I extend my gratitude to Judge Stanley Wisniewski for his service to the Copyright Royalty Board and to the creators and creative industries who rely on its work," Billington said. "Work is underway to recruit a permanent replacement and I am so pleased Rich Strasser has agreed to accept this interim appointment so the board’s work can continue apace."

Suzanne Barnett, Chief Copyright Royalty Judge, said, "Judge Wisniewski’s position will be very difficult to fill, but we are fortunate to have in Rich Strasser someone with extensive experience in economics and with the CRB to provide a seamless transition for the immediate future."

The Copyright Royalty Board consists of three judges and three staff. By statute, the judges must have a law degree and legal experience. In addition, one of the judges must have significant knowledge of copyright law and one must have significant knowledge of economics. For more information about the Copyright Royalty Board, visit www.loc.gov/crb/.

The Copyright Royalty Judges are charged by statute with facilitating efficiency of transactions required by law between copyright holders and distributors. The judges conduct proceedings between parties when the parties are unable to reach agreement on royalty terms, and facilitate distribution of royalties in concert with the U.S. Copyright Office.

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PR 12-176
09/17/12
ISSN 0731-3527

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