Press Release

NMPA THANKS U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FOR ACTION TO ADDRESS PIRACY ON CAMPUS
WASHINGTON – National Music Publishers’ Association President and CEO David Israelite today offered praise to the U.S. House of Representatives for passing a bipartisan bill that will help reduce illegal downloading on campus networks.

“This is an enormous step forward in addressing the problem of illegal downloading on campus networks,” Israelite said. “I am grateful to Chairman George Miller, Ranking Member Buck McKeon and others on the relevant House committee for their leadership in providing a reasonable and constructive way forward on the problem of piracy on college campuses.

“Copyright industries, including songwriters and music publishers, account for millions of jobs and billions in economic activity each and every year in the United States. But illegal downloading of songs and other copyrighted works poses a significant threat to this engine of economic growth. The use of publicly funded campus networks for illegal downloading should not be tolerated and this bill will ensure that students and others in campus communities are fully informed about the illegal nature of piracy as well as its consequences. It takes the added step of allowing for grants to help fund solutions.”

The bill, the bipartisan College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007, directs publicly funded institutions of higher education to inform students and employees about policies and procedures related to illegal downloading and distribution of copyright materials. The legislation also instructs institutions to develop a plan for offering legal alternatives and for exploring technology-based prevention. The bill provides authorization for grants to universities to develop solutions.

NMPA, as a member of the Copyright Alliance, sent a letter of support to House leadership earlier this week urging passage of the legislation.

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About the NMPA
Founded in 1917, the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) is a trade association representing more than 700 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.