Brent Lutes
Chief Economist
Dr. Brent Lutes is the first chief economist for the United States Copyright Office. He was appointed to the position effective April 10, 2022.
Lutes, an applied economist, is responsible for evaluating the economic impacts of programs and policies relating to the U.S. and international copyright systems. He will advise the Register of Copyrights and other senior Office officials on how these impacts affect the Office, copyright stakeholders, and the general public. He will also be in charge of developing internal and external research projects to support policy determinations and operational decisions.
Before joining the Office, Lutes worked in Boston at a global economic and financial consulting firm, the Brattle Group, where he served as a consultant, project manager, 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. Before becoming an economist, Lutes served in the U.S. Army.
Lutes earned an undergraduate degree in economics and quantitative analysis from San Diego State University and master’s and doctorate degrees in economics from the University of California, Irvine.
