The Motion Picture Association announced this week that the register of copyrights and the director of the U.S. Copyright Office will become its general counsel.

Karyn Temple will begin her new role at the Motion Picture Association on Jan. 13 and will be based at the organization's Washington, D.C., headquarters. She will oversee all of the organization's legal affairs and content protection efforts.

"The film industry has seen a tremendous amount of change recently, with new business models and huge growth around the world. I look forward to joining the wonderful team at the Motion Picture Association as it continues to explore new and innovative ways to support and sustain the film community on a global scale," Temple said in the press release.

Temple was not available for comment beyond the press release Wednesday.

Temple has worked as the U.S. Copyright Office for the past eight years. She started in March 2011 as senior counsel of policy and international affairs and was made the 13th register of copyrights and director in March of this year. She has also worked as senior counsel to the deputy attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice and previously served as a trial attorney in the DOJ. Temple also served as vice president at the Recording Industry Association of America. She graduated from Columbia Law School in 1997.

The Motion Picture Association's CEO, Charles Rivkin, said Temple is the perfect person for the job because of her experience in the copyright and intellectual property space.

"Strong copyright is the foundation of the creative economy, and Karyn's knowledge and expertise will ensure that we continue to protect and promote the industry's ability to successfully share their stories with audiences around the world," Rivkin said in the press release.

Temple replaces Steven Fabrizio who served as the association's general counsel for six years until this March when he was fired. Fabrizio was fired after he was arrested in Washington, D.C., earlier this year for alleged second-degree sexual abuse by threats and blackmail.

Daniel Robbins, associate general counsel of the MPA, had been the interim general counsel.