Music Publishers, Songwriters Applaud Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Illegal Online Activity

May 12, 2011


WASHINGTON— The National Music Publishers’ Association today praised legislation

introduced in the U.S Senate aimed at cracking down on web sites profiting from unlicensed music and other infringing and counterfeited products.

The bill, introduced today with bipartisan sponsors, would give lawmakers the tools they need to go after offshore rogue website operators who profit from infringing content. Sponsors included Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Judiciary Ranking Member Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), among many others.

“Society expects law enforcement to have the tools it needs to fight crime in the streets. The same should be true of crime fighting online,” said NMPA President and CEO David Israelite. “The Internet is the most profound commercial, educational and connective tool of our time,  but that value is jeopardized if criminal activity is allowed to flourish.  Sites that are operating solely to profit from unlicensed or counterfeit products endanger consumers, erode confidence in the system and undermine jobs and legitimate economic activity. This legislation is a step in the right direction and the music publishing and songwriting community urges its swift passage.”

RELATED FACTS

  • A recent study by trademark monitoring firm Envisional found that nearly one-fourth (23.8 percent) of global Internet traffic is infringing.
  • A report by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) predicts that by 2015, the annual global economic impact of piracy and counterfeiting will be $1.7 trillion and put 2.5 million jobs at risk each year.
  • The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in February released a list of more than 30 physical and Internet markets dealing in pirated and counterfeited goods.

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.