Joint Letter to President Obama Urging Protections Against Digital Theft

(March 24, 2010) — The following letter was delivered to President Obama and other members of his administration urging global intellectual property protection in the digital environment. Signers of the letter included SAG, AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, MPAA, RIAA, AFM and other entertainment organizations.

 

President Barack Obama
The President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

 

Dear Mr. President:

It was with great interest and appreciation that we read your recent remarks concerning the importance of intellectual property. You said "Our single greatest asset is the innovation, ingenuity, and creativity of the American people. It's essential to our prosperity. But it's only a competitive advantage if our companies know that someone else can't just steal that idea and duplicate it with cheaper inputs and labor." We wholeheartedly concur-indeed we could not have stated this essential point any more clearly or succinctly.

One way the US can promote effective global intellectual property protection in the digital environment is through the negotiation of a strong and modern intellectual property enforcement agreement, the ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement). We were very glad to hear you refer to this Agreement in your remarks, and support the Administration's attempt to ensure that discussions advance strong standards and enforcement mechanisms to address the theft of US creativity and ingenuity in this forum as well as the just beginning negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

The organizations listed below, representing actors, musicians, performers, composers, songwriters, music publishers, technicians and craftspeople, directors and their teams, and record and film companies (both large and small), can only underscore, as you indicated, the economic and cultural importance of succeeding in promoting more effective global protection of copyright. America's music and movies are not only central to our Nation's economic competitiveness, but they define and reflect our ever-changing cultural landscape, and drive technological innovation in the delivery of content.

It is essential that US policies ensure that present and future generations of Americans can continue to earn a living through artistic and cultural pursuits that reflect and advance the interests of our diverse Nation. Success in enhancing the global protection of intellectual property will directly and significantly expand US exports and create new jobs in an arena where the US enjoys a competitive advantage--an advantage that is now undermined by global theft of intellectual property. We are grateful for your engagement, the support of your Administration, and your personal leadership on this critical issue.

With best personal regards, we are
Sincerely

Richard Bengloff, President
American Association of Independent Music (A2IM)

Tom Lee, President
American Federation of Musicians (AFM)

Kim Roberts Hedgpeth, National Executive Director American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO (AFTRA)

John A LoFrumento, CEO
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)

Del Bryant, President & CEO
Broadcast Music Inc., BMI

Jay D. Roth, National Executive Director
Directors Guild of America (DGA)

Matthew D. Loeb, International President
I.A.T.S.E.

Dan Glickman, President & CEO
Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)

David Israelite, President & CEO
National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA)

Neil Portnow, President
The Recording Academy (NARAS)

David White, National Executive Director
Screen Actors Guild (SAG)

John L. Simson, Executive Director
SoundExchange

Mitch Bainwol, Chairman & CEO
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)

Cc: Ambassador Ron Kirk, United States Trade Representative
Secretary Hilary Clinton, US Secretary of State Secretary Gary Locke, US Secretary of Commerce
The Honorable Eric Holder, United States Attorney General
David J. Kappos, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Victoria A. Espinel, U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, Office of Management and Budget
Marybeth Peters, Register of Copyrights, US Copyright Office

March 17, 2010
President Barack Obama
The President of the United States