Obama Appoints Victoria Espinel as First Copyright Czar

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 28, 2009 - 7:16am.

Washington - President Obama on Friday announced the appointment of Victoria A. Espinel to the newly created position of copyright czar. She will be tasked with overseeing the nation's enforcement of intellectual property laws, and with protecting U.S. intellectual property abroad.

The position was created last year with the passage of the ProIP Act.

Espinel's appointment was lauded by groups in favor of both looser and more restrictive copyright laws, including Public Knowledge and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Espinel is the founder and president of Bridging the Innovation Divide, a nonprofit focused on empowering Americans "to obtain the full benefit of their creativity and ingenuity."

Previously, Espinel was a visiting assistant professor at the George Mason University School of Law, and was the first-ever Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Intellectual Property and Innovation.

She has also served as an advisor on intellectual property issues to the staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senate Finance Committee, House Judiciary Committee and House Ways and Means Committee.

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/s6vwx