The Ella Project will present a free Zoom webinar on copyright and royalties for the music community on Wednesday, May 18, from 2–4 p.m. Central. Holland Gormley and John Riley will lead a discussion about intellectual property rights, how to access royalty streams and specifically mechanical royalties from the Music Modernization Act.

Gormley is a public affairs specialist with the U.S. Copyright Office, where she specializes in outreach to creative communities. Prior to joining the Copyright Office, Holland worked in communications and project management roles at private, nonprofit, and government arts organizations, including the State Department’s hip hop diplomacy program and the National Endowment for the Arts’ music division. She holds a BFA in Studio Art and Art History from UNC-Chapel Hill, an MA in Arts Management from American University, and certificates in International Art Business (Sotheby’s | London), Leadership Communications (Harvard), and Social Media Communications (Georgetown). She is a former Presidential Management Fellow and in her free time mentors young people interested in government service.

Riley is an assistant general counsel at the Copyright Office where he has contributed to the federal government’s briefs in the Petrella and Aereo Supreme Court cases, the Copyright Small Claims, Copyright and the Music Marketplace, Section 1201 of Title 17, and Software-Enabled Consumer Products policy reports, and, among other regulatory work, has authored rules implementing the Music Modernization Act, Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (“CASE”) Act of 2020, and the GRAM registration option.

Prior to joining the Copyright Office in 2013, Riley worked as the senior manager of intellectual property enforcement at the United States Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center. Riley earned his LLM in intellectual property law from The George Washington University Law School and his JD from Penn State University’s, Dickinson School of Law. He has been recognized by the American Intellectual Property Law Association for his distinguished service and contributions in the field of intellectual property law.

To register for the Zoom webinar, email [email protected] for the link.

The Ella Project was launched in 2004 as a partnership of the Arts Council of New Orleans, Tipitina’s Foundation, and Tulane Law School to provide direct pro bono legal services to moderate income Louisiana artists, musicians and grass roots non profits. In 2016, with over 3000 clients served, The Ella Project became an independent 501c3 nonprofit, with an expanded dedication to provide pro bono legal assistance, arts business services, and advocacy to the cultural community.