The head of the Copyright Office says the law is broken — but can she fix it in time?

The Register of Copyrights needs a drink. Maria Pallante heads up the US Copyright Office, which helps establish practices and standards for copyright registration. During a speech at Columbia University, Pallante announced she will try to convince Congress to review and revise the country's copyright law, which was last seriously changed in 1998 with the controversial Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

The 49-year-old Pallante's ambitious plan has already been set in motion: the House subcommittee that oversees intellectual property and the internet has scheduled a hearing for this afternoon to discuss Pallante's recommendations. In her Columbia speech, Pallante said the time is right for "Congress to once again think big," and create "the next great copyright act." As she outlined the areas of the law she believes need to be fixed, she focused on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The DMCA, created to deal with copyright issues on the internet, is much maligned in both Silicon Valley and Hollywood. Many in tech and in entertainment believe the law should favor them more and the other less. Before wading in, Pallante paused and took a swig from a water bottle. Anyone about to tackle the DMCA, Pallante told the audience, should have a drink. Considering the task ahead of her, she might want to try bourbon.