WASHINGTON, D.C. (Top40 Charts/ RIAA) - The Congressional International Anti-Piracy Caucus today released its annual 'Country Watch List' identifying several countries with ineffective intellectual property protections. Mitch Bainwol, Chairman & CEO, issued the following statement:
'We appreciate the leadership and work of the caucus and in particular its co-chairs, Senators Whitehouse and Hatch, and Congressmen Schiff and Goodlatte. We hope that the collective voices of concern from both Congress and the Administration in its recent Special 301 Report will serve as impetus for common-sense reforms in each of the countries identified.
'In these challenging economic times, it is more important than ever that the U.S. government take meaningful steps to ensure that the creative community can effectively compete in global markets without facing unfair competition.
New technologies fuel global innovation and enhance opportunities for America's creativity to reach new audiences, but a lack of effective measures by certain countries to protect intellectual property online severely impairs creativity and the ability of the legal marketplace to reach its full potential.'
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
CHINA
China has an opportunity to start afresh in the digital world and to create an online marketplace that is not hindered by the massive piracy that has long afflicted its physical market. Unfortunately, major companies like Baidu have been permitted to operate in ways that undermine this potential, and we hope that the Chinese government will act swiftly to address this, and to take other steps to create a healthy online marketplace.
SPAIN & CANADA
In Spain and Canada, the legislative framework for addressing online piracy is inadequate, and both countries suffer from very high online piracy rates as a consequence. Both governments should act quickly to address online piracy, and to ensure that rules promote accountability and responsible conduct on the part of all players in the online distribution chain.
RUSSIA
Russia needs to take prompt action to address some very basic online piracy issues, including the operation of pirate sites 'licensed' by rogue societies. We look forward to the satisfactory conclusion to the accreditation process for collecting societies that will hopefully facilitate enforcement efforts.
MEXICO
Mexico, notwithstanding the efforts on the part of the Attorney General's Office and other enforcement bodies, continues to suffer from severe piracy rates. We look forward to the promulgation and implementation of a national strategy that utilizes and expands resources at the federal, state and local level, and which restores the viability of a very important music market.
The Recording Industry Association of America is the trade group that represents the U.S. recording industry. Its mission is to foster a business and legal climate that supports and promotes our members' creative and financial vitality. Its members are the record companies that comprise the most vibrant national music industry in the world. RIAA members create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 85% of all legitimate sound recordings produced and sold in the United States. In support of this mission, the RIAA works to protect intellectual property rights worldwide and the First Amendment rights of artists; conducts consumer, industry and technical research; and monitors and reviews state and federal laws, regulations and policies. The RIAA also certifies Gold, Platinum, Multi-Platinum, and Diamond sales awards, as well as Los Premios De Oro y Platino, an award celebrating Latin music sales.
