Marybeth Peters

Marybeth Peters, former head of the U.S. Copyright Office, died peacefully on September 29, 2022, at the age of 83 following a long illness. A distinguished attorney, widely acknowledged around the world as a leading expert on U.S. and international copyright law, she was appointed Register of Copyrights in 1994 and served in the position for 16 years until retiring from the federal government in 2010. Ms. Peters, aka Mary Elizabeth Peters, was born on June 12, 1939, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and grew up in nearby East Providence. Ms. Peters was an inspiring speaker and teacher, who made copyright law approachable and helped shape many careers in the field. A warm and friendly leader, always interested in new ideas and perspectives, she had an indelible laugh that put people at ease and could instantly broadcast her presence at crowded gatherings. Her passion for copyright was matched by her love for music and dogs, especially Maggie, her beloved Bedlington Terrier and late life companion. Altogether, Ms. Peters devoted 45 years to public service, spending 44 years in the U.S. Copyright Office following a year with the main Library of Congress. She held many positions at the Copyright Office, developing expertise in every facet of the copyright system. Her first job was as a music examiner, and after attending law school at night she became an attorney-advisor in the general counsel’s office. Subsequent positions included chief of both the information and reference division and the examining division, and senior policy advisor to the then-Register. She authored the General Guide to the Copyright Act of 1976. As Register of Copyrights, Ms. Peters testified before Congress numerous times and delivered policy studies and recommendations on a wide range of statutory questions. She oversaw the first-phase modernization of the copyright registration system from paper to digital processes. Her impact on U.S. law was significant, including contributing to the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act that implemented two Internet Treaties that her office was instrumental in negotiating. At the same time, she was a true internationalist, developing relationships with colleagues around the world and serving as a consultant at the World Intellectual Property Organization earlier in her career. Upon her retirement, she received letters from Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush on behalf of himself and the Bush family, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama, recognizing her more than four decades of public service. Ms. Peters graduated from East Providence High School, earned her undergraduate degree from Rhode Island College and her law degree, with honors, from George Washington University Law School. She was a longtime member and former trustee of the Copyright Society of the USA and received numerous recognitions and awards, including the Los Angeles Copyright Society’s lifetime achievement award as well as the New Jersey Intellectual Property Association’s Jefferson Medal and the American Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Section’s inaugural Mark T. Banner award. Her standing in the copyright community was reflected in the numerous prestigious lectures she was invited to deliver, notably the 1996 Horace Manges Lecture at Columbia University; the 2004 Brace Memorial Lecture at New York University School of Law; the 2009 Charles Clark Memorial Lecture at the London Book Fair; and the 2010 Christopher Meyer Lecture at George Washington University Law School. After retiring from federal service, she practiced with the law firm of Oblon, Spivak from 2011 to 2015 and then Muncy, Geissler, Olds & Lowe from 2016 to 2017, and served on the Board of Directors of the Copyright Clearance Center from 2011 to 2017. Ms. Peters is predeceased by many loved ones including her parents Mona (née Drummond) and William C. Peters and her brother Jeremiah Peters. She twice married and divorced. Surviving her are three generations of nephews and nieces, including nephew Michael Peters of Burlington, Connecticut, and niece MaryAnn Peters Torsiello of West Palm Beach, Florida. She will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by countless close friends and colleagues from across the country and around the world. Donations may be made in Ms. Peter’s memory to the Intellectual Property Program at George Washington University Law School. Her trustees wish to thank her many caregivers at the Grand Oaks senior community in Washington, DC, as well as Family and Nursing Care and Capital Caring Health, for their skill and compassion during her final years. She will be laid to rest at Mount Saint Mary Cemetery in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The service and interment in Rhode Island will be private. Professional meetings in her honor will be held later. Local arrangements are entrusted with William W. Tripp Funeral Home, Pawtucket, RI For online condolences please visit: TRIPPFUNERALHOME.com

Marybeth Peters

June 12, 1939 - September 29, 2022