Press Release
| U.S. Copyright Industries Continue to be Economic Leaders, New Report Finds NMPA joins U.S. Secretary of Commerce, other industry leaders to release economic study |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 20, 2009 WASHINGTON—The U.S. copyright industries continue to be a jobs and growth leader, according to new findings released today by the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke. “The U.S. copyright industries continue to pair their exceptional artistry with unmatched productivity,” said David Israelite, President and CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association, a member of IIPA. “The music publishing and songwriting community, along with those whose endeavors range from moviemaking to software design, generates good jobs, economic activity and strong sales abroad. We are proud of our contributions to the nation’s economy.” Copyright Industries and the U.S. Economy: The 2003-2007 Report, written by Stephen Siwek of Economists Incorporated, was completed for the IIPA and updates 11 previous studies detailing the economic impact and contributions of U.S. copyright industries – including theatrical films, TV programs, home video, DVDs, business software, entertainment software, books, music and sound recordings – on the U.S. economy. Among the key findings of the report, the core copyright industries: Accounted for nearly 23 percent of the U.S. economy’s growth in 2006-2007; Grew at a rate more than twice that of the U.S. economy as a whole in each of the years 2004-2007; Added $889 billion to the U.S. economy in 2007 – approximately 6.4 percent of GDP; Exceeded $126 billion in foreign sales in 2007; Employed 5.6 million workers in 2007, more than 4 percent of the U.S. workforce. In remarks during the report’s release at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Israelite noted that the biggest threat to the U.S. copyright industries continues to be unlawful use of copyrighted works. “The most fundamental reason creators are able to earn a living, create other jobs, and contribute economic as well as cultural value, is that copyright gives them the ability to benefit from the use of their hard work,” Israelite said. “Piracy both at home and abroad causes serious economic harm. Strong copyright protection, effective enforcement and liberalized market access are cornerstones for our industry.” The complete report can be viewed at www.iipa.com About the NMPA Founded in 1917, the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) is the trade association representing American music publishers and their songwriting partners. The NMPA’s mandate is to protect and advance the interests of music publishers and songwriters in matters relating to the domestic and global protection of music copyrights. |
