Register of Copyrights Names Associate Register for Policy and International Affairs

Register of Copyrights Names Associate Register for Policy and International Affairs

Register of Copyrights Maria A. Pallante has named Michele Woods to the position of Associate Register for Policy and International Affairs. The appointment was effective on October 23, 2011. Woods has extensive experience in both domestic and international copyright policy, including through prior positions with the U.S. Copyright Office. She has headed the Office of Policy and International Affairs for the past year on an acting basis, and before that served as Senior Counsel for Policy and International Affairs from March 2009 to October 2010.

"The position of associate register is a critical position within the Copyright Office and the greater copyright community," Pallante said. "Michele’s talents and experience are tremendous assets to the office and greatly appreciated by all who work with her."

The Office of Policy and International Affairs (PIA) is responsible for an important portfolio of copyright matters that includes analysis and support on copyright legislation, policy studies, and review of foreign copyright laws. Enforcement and anti-piracy efforts are also an important focus for PIA attorneys, who frequently serve on U.S. delegations to international organizations and in trade and other international negotiations with foreign governments.

Prior to joining the Copyright Office, Woods was in private practice in Washington, D.C., most recently from 2000 to 2009 as counsel in the Intellectual Property and Technology group at Arnold & Porter LLP. Her copyright practice included a wide range of domestic and international copyright policy, legislative, litigation and counseling matters. Woods litigated extensively and appeared before numerous United States federal courts, the Copyright Office, the Copyright Royalty Board, the former Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panels and the Copyright Royalty Tribunal. She was also with the law firm of Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C.

Woods received both her J.D. and LL.M (in International and Comparative Law) degrees from the Duke University School of Law. She received an A.B. from Princeton University and a Master of Studies from Oxford University. Since 2003, she has been an adjunct professor at the Catholic University Columbus School of Law, where she teaches an upper-level seminar on international intellectual property.