U.S. Chamber Supports U.S. Copyright Office's Critical Role

On May 13, 2026, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce submitted a statement for the record to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property following its May 12 oversight hearing on the U.S. Copyright Office. The Chamber’s submission reinforced that the Copyright Office is indispensable infrastructure for the U.S. creative economy—supporting more than $3 trillion in GDP and 21 million jobs.

• Copyright registration is the backbone of enforcement. The statement emphasized that a functional, efficient registration system remains essential for creators to protect their rights.
• Core services must remain strong and modernized. Beyond registration, the Office’s roles—recordation, statutory licensing, and guidance to the CRB and CCB—are foundational and must keep pace with digital markets.
• Modernization is progress—but not the finish line. The Chamber welcomed digitization and system upgrades, while urging sustained prioritization and investment.
• Governance changes must preserve expertise. As Congress considers reforms to the Register of Copyrights’ appointment process, the submission stressed maintaining the Office’s historic advisory role to Congress and engaging diverse stakeholders.

As Congress evaluates a wide range of policy responses affecting the creative economy, the Chamber’s message is clear: durable solutions depend on a modern, expert, and fully empowered Copyright Office.

See the full statement in the link.