Press Release
| National Music Publishers' Association opposes FAIR USE Act |
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For Immediate Release (March 1, 2007) – National Music Publishers’ Association President and CEO David Israelite today released the following statement regarding the Freedom and Innovation Revitalizing U.S. Entrepreneurship Act of 2007(H.R. 1201), introduced earlier this week. “This bill contains provisions that would seriously erode the protections in the law desperately needed by songwriters and music publishers to be fairly compensated for their copyrighted works. In the false name of ‘fair use,’ the bill would in effect encourage widespread piracy. “The most disturbing part of this legislation is the provision that would limit the availability of statutory damages against those who encourage, induce or otherwise help consumers to steal. This provision, if it became law, would allow for flagrant disregard for the copyright rights of music publishers and songwriters. “The NMPA has already begun to lobby Congress in opposition to this legislation. It is crucial that the so-called FAIR USE Act be stopped, and we will work tirelessly to warn members of Congress and their staff about the harmful provisions in this legislation.” About the NMPA Founded in 1917, the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) is a trade association representing more than 600 American music publishers. The NMPA’s mandate is to protect and advance the interests of music publishers and their songwriter partners in matters relating to the domestic and global protection of music copyrights. |
