Thorvald Solberg

This article is about American politician. For the American admiral, seeThorvald A. Solberg.

Thorvald Solberg
1stRegister of Copyrights
In office July 22, 1897 – April 21, 1930
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	William Lincoln Brown
Personal details
Born	April 22, 1852 Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Died	July 15, 1949(1949-07-15)(aged 97) Glen Echo, Maryland
Spouse	Mary Adelaide Nourse
Residence	Glen Echo, Maryland

Thorvald Solberg(April 22, 1852 – July 15, 1949) was the firstRegister of Copyrights(1897–1930) in theUnited States Copyright Office.He was a noted authority oncopyrightand played an instrumental role in shaping theCopyright Act of 1909.

Early life

Thorvald Solberg was born inManitowoc, Wisconsin.He was the eldest of six children born ofimmigrant Norwegianparents. Solberg attended public schools, working forbooksellersafter graduation inManitowoc,Boston,Detroit,Knoxville,andOmaha.

On May 1, 1876, Solberg began working in theLibrary of Congressas a cataloguer. In 1876, he became part of the Library's law department staff, despite not being alawyer.While there, he played an active role in the direction and control of the Library'scopyright registrationand deposit functions. He remained in that position until he left the Library altogether in 1889 to work for theBoston Book Company.

Register of Copyrights

In 1897,Congresscreated theUnited States Copyright Officeas a separate department of the Library of Congress to handle the administrative functions of copyright law. Solberg was widely supported to become the first head of the Office due to his growing reputation as a national authority on copyright (and due to some lobbying on his own part for the post).After being interviewed by PresidentWilliam McKinley,Solberg was appointed by Librarian of CongressJohn Russell Youngand took office as the firstRegister of Copyrightson July 22, 1897, with an annual salary of $3000 and a staff of 29 clerks.

During his tenure as Register, Solberg played an active role in advancing United States copyright law. He advocated copyright reform and was instrumental in the passage of theCopyright Act of 1909,one of the most significant revisions in United States copyright law. He was known as a champion for the rights of authors and supported rela xing theregistrationanddepositrequirements of copyright law,consistent with the shift away fromcopyright formalitiesin theBerne Convention.Solberg also pushed for the United States to join theBerne Convention.

Thorvald Solberg retired as Register on April 21, 1930, his 78th birthday. He remains the longest-serving Register of Copyrights.

Personal life

Thorvald Solberg was married to Mary Adelaide Nourse ofLynn, Massachusetts.He resided onCapitol Hillwhen he began his stint as Register of Copyrights. In 1914, Solberg moved toGlen Echo, Maryland,where he resided until his death. Solberg was a prolific writer, and he compiled several bibliographies and compilations of United States and foreign copyright laws.

Selected writings

• Copyright in Congress 1789-1904: A Bibliography, and Chronological Record of all Proceedings in Congress in Relation to Copyright from April 15, 1789, to April 28, 1904, First Congress, 1st Session, to Fifty-eighth Congress, 2d Session,(Government Printing Office, February 1905)
• Copyright Law Reform,The Yale Law Journal,Vol. 35, No. 1 (Nov., 1925), pp. 48–75
• The International Copyright Union,The Yale Law Journal,Vol. 36, No. 1 (Nov., 1926), pp. 68–111
• The Present Copyright Situation,The Yale Law Journal,Vol. 40, No. 2 (Dec., 1930), pp. 184–214

Citations

• Biography of Thorvald Solberg,U.S. Copyright Office
• U.S. Copyright Office History
• Patry, William(September 2009).Patry on Copyright.Thomson Reuters/West.

External links

• Works by Thorvald SolbergatFaded Page(Canada)