Earlier this month, Victoria Espinel, announced that she was leaving her role as the White House’s chief intellectual property adviser. On Wednesday, BSA | The Software alliance confirmed that Espinel will be the digital-sector advocacy group’s new president and CEO.
She steps into her new role on September 3, replacing Robert Holleyman, who resigned as BSA’s chief executive officer earlier this year.
In a statement from BSA, Board Chairman Pascal Di Fronzo, who is also senior vice president and general counsel of Autodesk Inc., said, “Victoria brings an extraordinary wealth of expertise on key issues at the intersection of trade policy, market access, and IP protection,” adding that “she is a proven leader who has earned the respect of policymakers in the United States and around the world.”
Espinel, who was the first U.S. intellectual property enforcement coordinator, said in a statement, “Software drives growth and productivity in all sectors of the global economy, and it enriches modern life. BSA will continue to be a forceful and effective advocate on issues central to the next phase of the industry’s growth as rapid changes in the digital landscape create new opportunities and policy priorities.”
BSA has been advocating for antipiracy legislation and producing educational campaigns about software copyright infringement since 1988, and its members include Apple Inc., Intel Corp., Microsoft Corp., and other multinational software companies. The group generates an annual study of “Global Software Piracy” that has raised questions about how BSA calculates its figures about the economic impact of software piracy.
Espinel worked on IP issues under both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama. Republican and Democratic coworkers from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative have weighed in with support for her appointment at BSA CEO: Former ambassador Ron Kirk, who served as U.S. Trade Representative for President Obama, said, “Victoria is recognized around the world as a preeminent leader on intellectual property and trade issues—not just because of the positions she has held, but also because she is viewed as a knowledgeable, trustworthy, honest broker.” Former ambassador Robert Zoellick, who was U.S. Trade Representative under President Bush, said, “When we worked together on Free Trade Agreements and other negotiations and enforcement topics, Victoria played a principal role in adapting U.S. policy to fast-changing technologies, making the case to other countries about the benefits of strong IPR protections, and enforcing legal rights.”
Brian Glaser is the web editor for Corporate Counsel, a Recorder affiliate.
