IP Law Daily, AGENCY NEWS: White House nominates Deborah Robinson as IP enforcement coordinator, (May 11, 2023)
Organizations Mentioned:Executive Office of the President | Howard University | Iatse | International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees | New York State Bar Association | University of Pittsburgh
By Jonathan Anderson
The IPEC position has been vacant since 2021.
President Biden announced on May 8 his intention to nominate Deborah Robinson as the White House’s intellectual property enforcement coordinator (IPEC). Robinson is currently head of intellectual property enforcement at Paramount Global, formerly ViacomCBS. She also serves as co-chair of the Diversity Committee of the IP Section of the New York State Bar Association and is a board member of Aequitas, a non-profit organization addressing access and quality of justice in cases of human trafficking and gender-based violence.
The nomination drew support in political, business, and creative circles. U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D., California), who had previously urged Biden to fill the post, applauded Robinson’s nomination. “Online copyright infringement and other IP theft poses a grave threat to creators,” Schiff said in a press release. “The IPEC serves an important role in protecting the intellectual property that is critical to preserving the film and television we all love.”
Patrick Kilbride, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Innovation Policy Center, praised the nomination. “Robinson’s extensive experience prosecuting intellectual property theft in the public and private sectors makes her an outstanding choice for this vital role,” Kilbride said.
Meanwhile, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), a labor union representing technicians, artists, and craftspersons in the entertainment industry, also commended the move. Matthew D. Loeb, the group’s president, said that Robinson “understands how the economic livelihoods of behind-the-scenes entertainment workers depend on strong intellectual property protections. Her nomination could not come at a more crucial time, as more of our members’ work is being brought to digital streaming platforms and AI capabilities are transforming the copyright landscape. We look forward to working with Ms. Robinson to strengthen our industries and secure a stronger future for IATSE workers.”
Before joining Paramount Global, Robinson spent five years at the Recording Industry Association of America and seven years as an assistant district attorney for the city of Philadelphia. She received a B.A. from Howard University and a J.D. from University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Vishal Amin, who previously held the IPEC position under former President Donald Trump, stepped down in 2021; the seat has been vacant since.
IPEC was created in 2008 and is part of the Executive Office of the President. Its function is “to advise the President and coordinate with Cabinet departments and agencies on the development of the United States’ overall intellectual property policy and strategy, to promote innovation and creativity, and to ensure effective intellectual property protection and enforcement, domestically and abroad,” according to The White House website.
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