Peggy McGlone

Musical artists are reacting with outrage at the dismissal of the head of the US Copyright Office, calling the move an aggressive attack that is part of a larger effort to erode their creative rights and bolster advocates of free content.

"This is a major affront to copyright," said songwriter and music publisher Dean Kay. "Google seems to be taking over the world — and politics ... Their major position is to allow themselves to use copyright material without remuneration. If the Copyright Office head is toeing the Google line, creators are going to get hurt." The Copyright Office administers the complex set of rules governing US copyrights and advises Congress on policy and legal issues. It is a federal department within the Library of Congress. New Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden in Oct abruptly removed Maria Pallante from the position she had held since 2011 and reassigned her to a role of "senior advisor." Pallante resigned three days later.