Dr. Brent Lutes is the first chief economist for the United States Copyright Office (USCO). He was appointed to the position effective April 10, 2022. Dr. Lutes is an applied economist whose current research focuses on the economics of artificial intelligence policy, copyright reversion rights, rights of publicity, and equitable copyright policy. At the USCO he is responsible for evaluating the economic impacts of programs and policies relating to the U.S. and international copyright systems. He advises the Register of Copyrights and other senior USCO officials on how these impacts affect the Office, copyright stakeholders, and the general public. He is also in charge of developing internal and external research to support policy determinations and operational decisions. Before joining the Office, Dr. Lutes worked in Boston at a global economic and financial consulting firm, the Brattle Group, where he served as a consultant and expert witness. He has contributed important economic analyses in high-profile litigation and regulatory matters involving intellectual property in the United States and internationally. His experience spans a breadth of industries, including art and entertainment, technology, telecommunications, transportation, and health care. Brent earned a PhD in economics from the University of California, Irvine, where his research focused on the economic concerns of legislative and regulatory governance.