Movies, Anti-Piracy Caucus: Stop Stealing Our Stuff
Liza Porteus Viana
Contributor
Posted:
05/20/09
New topic that has nothing to do with Nancy Pelosi, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Steele. Gasp!
Members of the Congressional International Anti-Piracy Caucus (IAPC) today released its 2009 Priority Watch List of countries where piracy -- the theft of anything that's supposed to be enjoy intellectual property protections, including CDs, DVDs, even car parts and medicines, often via the Internet -- has reached alarming levels. Canada, China, Mexico, Russia and Spain made it to this year's list. The United States government has its own list of countries to watch because of rampant IP theft, but that list is much bigger. One of the big concerns -- besides a loss of revenue for the movie and record industries, among others -- is that organized crime use funds from the piracy of DVDs and CDs for its own nefarious activities.
And the piracy may be getting more brazen. In early April, an unfinished copy of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" appeared online a full month before the blockbuster's scheduled release.
"The creation, production, and export of music, movies, software, and books, make up America's new 'assembly line' of the 21st century," said one of IAPC's co-chairmen, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. "Just as we don't allow cars to be stolen off the lots of Ford or GM dealerships, we cannot allow movies, music, and computer programs to be stolen from motion picture studios, recording studios, and software manufactures. The U.S. copyright industry deserves the same protection under the law."
IAPC, chaired by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Schiff and Rep Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., is going to keep a close eye on these five countries and plans to introduce legislation to curb piracy and make sure countries clamp down on it. Entertainment industry estimates say global piracy costs U.S. firms over $25 billion in lost sales each year - money, and jobs they say are much needed in today's economy. The Motion Picture Association of America specifically points to Spain as a huge offender. The Business Software Alliance says software was pirated around the globe in 2008 to the tune of $53 billion.
"During tough economic times it becomes even clearer how important it is to protect those industries that are truly creating jobs and generating revenue," said MPAA CEO Dan Glickman.
The Obama administration so far has sent nothing but positive signs that it's willing to help protect the entertainment industry on this front. Vice President Joe Biden was the feature dinner speaker at an MPAA event last month, at which Commerce Secretary Gary L ocke said, "I see yours as an industry worth fighting for."
Biden's closeness with the industry hasn't gone unnoticed. Obama has yet to name an IP "czar" -- sort of like the equivalent of our drug czars -- who's supposed to be coordinating IP enforcement. Names floating around for that post include several from the industry, including lobbyists. Letters of protest against going that route have already been sent to the White House.
Members of the Congressional International Anti-Piracy Caucus (IAPC) today released its 2009 Priority Watch List of countries where piracy -- the theft of anything that's supposed to be enjoy intellectual property protections, including CDs, DVDs, even car parts and medicines, often via the Internet -- has reached alarming levels. Canada, China, Mexico, Russia and Spain made it to this year's list. The United States government has its own list of countries to watch because of rampant IP theft, but that list is much bigger. One of the big concerns -- besides a loss of revenue for the movie and record industries, among others -- is that organized crime use funds from the piracy of DVDs and CDs for its own nefarious activities.
And the piracy may be getting more brazen. In early April, an unfinished copy of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" appeared online a full month before the blockbuster's scheduled release.
"The creation, production, and export of music, movies, software, and books, make up America's new 'assembly line' of the 21st century," said one of IAPC's co-chairmen, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. "Just as we don't allow cars to be stolen off the lots of Ford or GM dealerships, we cannot allow movies, music, and computer programs to be stolen from motion picture studios, recording studios, and software manufactures. The U.S. copyright industry deserves the same protection under the law."
IAPC, chaired by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Schiff and Rep Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., is going to keep a close eye on these five countries and plans to introduce legislation to curb piracy and make sure countries clamp down on it. Entertainment industry estimates say global piracy costs U.S. firms over $25 billion in lost sales each year - money, and jobs they say are much needed in today's economy. The Motion Picture Association of America specifically points to Spain as a huge offender. The Business Software Alliance says software was pirated around the globe in 2008 to the tune of $53 billion.
"During tough economic times it becomes even clearer how important it is to protect those industries that are truly creating jobs and generating revenue," said MPAA CEO Dan Glickman.
The Obama administration so far has sent nothing but positive signs that it's willing to help protect the entertainment industry on this front. Vice President Joe Biden was the feature dinner speaker at an MPAA event last month, at which Commerce Secretary Gary L ocke said, "I see yours as an industry worth fighting for."
Biden's closeness with the industry hasn't gone unnoticed. Obama has yet to name an IP "czar" -- sort of like the equivalent of our drug czars -- who's supposed to be coordinating IP enforcement. Names floating around for that post include several from the industry, including lobbyists. Letters of protest against going that route have already been sent to the White House.