Jacqueline C. Charlesworth, General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights, oversees the legal affairs of the U.S. Copyright Office. As General Counsel, she has primary responsibility for the legal interpretation of the U.S. Copyright Act. In addition to supervising the litigation-related and rulemaking activities of the Office, she advises Congress, the Department of Justice, and other agencies on a wide range of copyright-related law and policy matters.

Jacqueline was appointed General Counsel in July 2013. Previously, she served as Senior Counsel to the Register of Copyrights. She joined the Copyright Office in 2012 from a New York City law firm, where she focused on music and copyright issues. Before entering private practice, she held the position of Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA), representing music publishers and songwriters in litigation, regulatory and other matters. Prior to that, she served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. (HFA).

In addition to precedential copyright cases, Jacqueline has handled significant transactional matters within the music industry. Acting on behalf of publishers and songwriters, she worked with digital media companies and record labels to enable the launch of early on-demand streaming services, successfully negotiating the first rates and terms for those services to be adopted under the statutory licensing provisions of the Copyright Act. She is also responsible for a long-term, multiparty agreement to improve industry licensing practices.

Jacqueline received her J.D. from Yale Law School and holds a B.A. in American Civilization from Brown University. At law school, she served on the Executive Committee of The Yale Law Journal. Following law school, she clerked for Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum of the Southern District of New York and Judge Betty B. Fletcher of the Ninth Circuit.

Tim Matson is a shareholder and member of Lommen Abdo’s Entertainment, Intellectual Property, Litigation and Corporate Law practice groups. Tim is an experienced and skilled transactional lawyer, litigator and intellectual property attorney with over 20 years of experience representing musicians, filmmakers, media talent, writers, visual artists and other creators of artistic works in all aspects of their entertainment careers. He has worked with several legacy artists on copyright transfer termination issues, including the firm’s filing of the nation’s first post-1978 notice of termination. Tim also represents emerging and mid-sized businesses as they develop, market and distribute creative content and technology, such as computer software, video games, and on-line products and services. With this combination of practices, Tim brings a big picture perspective, yet a practical approach, to providing effective solutions for entertainment and business clients, whether at the deal-making stage or in litigation.

Tim has handled all aspects of major publishing, recording, licensing and other agreements in the entertainment industries, as well as IP components of business acquisitions and asset transfers involving patented technologies, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. With respect to litigation, Tim has handled cases and arbitrations involving copyright, trademark, trade secret, right of publicity and business contract disputes.

Tim is also an active member of the national and state bar associations. He served as Chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association Arts & Entertainment Law Section from 2003 to 2004. Tim is also a frequent lecturer and author on entertainment and IP issues. Tim has twice been listed as a Rising Star by Minnesota Law & Politics, and is rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell.