I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4241 
To establish the United States Copyright Office as an agency in the legislative 
branch, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 11, 2015 
Mr. MARINO (for himself, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, and Mrs. COMSTOCK) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary 
A BILL 
To establish the United States Copyright Office as an agency 
in the legislative branch, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Copyright Office for 
the Digital Economy Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION OF THE 
UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT OFFICE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION.—Section 
701 of title 17, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows: 
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‘‘§ 701. United States Copyright Office; organization, 
powers, and duties 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The United States Copy-
right Office is established as an agency in the legislative 
branch. 
‘‘(b) DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR.— 
‘‘(1) DIRECTOR.— 
‘‘(A) APPOINTMENT.—The powers and du-
ties of the United States Copyright Office shall 
be vested in a Director of the United States 
Copyright Office, who shall be a citizen of the 
United States and shall be appointed by the 
President, by and with the advice and consent 
of the Senate. The President shall make the ap-
pointment after receiving the recommendations 
of the commission established under subpara-
graph (B). 
‘‘(B) COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND INDI-
VIDUALS.— 
‘‘(i) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is es-
tablished a commission to recommend indi-
viduals to the President for appointment to 
the office of Director (in this subsection 
referred to as the ‘commission’). The com-
mission shall recommend at least three in-
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dividuals for appointment to such office. 
The commission shall be composed of— 
‘‘(I) the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives; 
‘‘(II) the President pro tempore 
of the Senate; 
‘‘(III) the majority and minority 
leaders of the House of Representa-
tives and the Senate; and 
‘‘(IV) the chairmen and the rank-
ing minority members of the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee 
on the Judiciary of the Senate. 
‘‘(ii) 
TIMING
OF
RECOMMENDA-
TIONS.—The commission shall make its 
recommendations to the President for Di-
rector— 
‘‘(I) in the case of the first Di-
rector appointed under this para-
graph, not later than 60 days after 
the date of the enactment of the 
Copyright Office for the Digital Econ-
omy Act; and 
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‘‘(II) in the case of any subse-
quent vacancy in the office of Direc-
tor, not later than 60 days after the 
date on which the vacancy occurs. 
‘‘(iii) APPOINTMENTS WITHOUT REC-
OMMENDATIONS.—If the commission does 
not make its recommendations to the 
President within the applicable 60-day pe-
riod provided in clause (ii), the President 
may appoint a Director without receiving 
such recommendations. 
‘‘(C) TERM OF OFFICE.—The term of of-
fice of the Director shall be 10 years. An indi-
vidual appointed Director under subparagraph 
(A) shall not be eligible for reappointment to 
such office. An individual may serve as Director 
after the expiration of the term for which the 
individual was appointed until a successor has 
been appointed. 
‘‘(D) REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.—The Presi-
dent may remove the Director solely for ineffi-
ciency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. 
‘‘(2) DEPUTY DIRECTOR.—The Director shall 
appoint a Deputy Director of the United States 
Copyright Office, who shall be vested with the au-
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thority to act in the capacity of the Director in the 
event of the absence or incapacity of the Director. 
Before appointing a Deputy Director, the Director 
shall consult with the commission. The Deputy Di-
rector shall be a citizen of the United States and 
shall be appointed without regard to political affili-
ation. 
‘‘(3) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Director and Dep-
uty Director shall be persons who have a profes-
sional background and experience in copyright law. 
‘‘(c) OTHER OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.—The Di-
rector shall appoint and fix the pay of such other officers, 
employees (including attorneys), and agents of the Office 
as the Director considers necessary to carry out the func-
tions of the Office, define the title, authority, and duties 
of such officers and employees, and delegate to them such 
of the powers vested in the Office as the Director may 
determine. The Director shall appoint officers and employ-
ees under this subsection who have responsibility for ad-
ministering technology and data systems of the Office. 
‘‘(d) ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES.— 
All administrative functions and duties under this title, 
except as otherwise specified, are the responsibility of the 
Director. 
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‘‘(e) SPECIFIC POWERS AND DUTIES.—In addition to 
the powers and duties set forth in other provisions of this 
title, the Office— 
‘‘(1) shall advise Congress on national and 
international issues relating to copyright, other mat-
ters arising under this title, and related matters; 
‘‘(2) shall provide advice and assistance to the 
executive branch and the Judiciary on national and 
international issues relating to copyright, other mat-
ters arising under this title, and related matters; 
‘‘(3) shall participate in meetings of inter-
national intergovernmental organizations and meet-
ings with foreign government officials, and shall 
serve on United States delegations, relating to copy-
right, other matters arising under this title, and re-
lated matters; 
‘‘(4) shall conduct studies and programs re-
garding copyright, other matters arising under this 
title, and related matters, the administration of the 
Copyright Office, or any function vested in the 
Copyright Office by law, including educational pro-
grams conducted cooperatively with foreign intellec-
tual property offices and international intergovern-
mental organizations; 
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‘‘(5) shall review and maintain its records and 
provide services in a manner that reflects applicable 
technological needs and developments; 
‘‘(6) shall perform such other functions as Con-
gress may direct, or as may be appropriate in fur-
therance of the functions and duties specifically set 
forth in this title; and 
‘‘(7) shall adopt a seal to be used to authen-
ticate all certified documents issued by the Copy-
right Office. 
‘‘(f) ROLE AS CONGRESSIONAL ADVISOR.—No officer 
or agency of the United States shall have any authority 
to require the Director or any other officer or employee 
of the Copyright Office to submit legislative recommenda-
tions, or testimony or comments on legislation, to any offi-
cer or agency of the United States for approval, com-
ments, or review before the submission of such rec-
ommendations, testimony, or comments to Congress. 
‘‘(g) ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL AUTHORITIES.— 
The Office— 
‘‘(1) may acquire, construct, purchase, lease, 
hold, manage, operate, improve, alter, and renovate 
any real, personal, or mixed property, or any interest 
therein, as it considers necessary to carry out its 
functions; 
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