Law Enforcement is Part of the Solution
Friday, August 29th, 2008 by copyright
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Today’s guest blog is written by David Israelite, President and CEO of the National Music Publishers Association.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Wednesday arrested a man in Los Angeles for posting nine unreleased Guns N’ Roses songs on his web site earlier this year.
I applaud Director Robert Mueller and the FBI for recognizing the seriousness of this case and spelling out in no uncertain terms that this is criminal behavior.
Having spent time at the Justice Department tackling IP enforcement and coordination issues, I understand the challenge of bringing these cases to fruition. In 2004, I was asked to chair the Department’s Task Force on Intellectual Property to examine all aspects of how the DOJ handled intellectual property issues and then to implement the proposals developed.
Since 2004 under the ongoing leadership of Director Mueller, the FBI has invested more resources and established better coordination on crimes involving America’s intellectual property and continue to achieve positive results.
It is no secret the music industry has struggled under the weight of rampant online theft of music. It is also no secret that the efforts by creators to defend our rights are unpopular with many. No one likes to be told they can’t do something.
But the cost of this theft is measurable in lost jobs, lost wages, and lost economic activity for the United States. Allowing this behavior to go unchecked robs America’s creators, undermines the legitimate marketplace and ultimately will result in fewer choices for music fans.
Getting a handle on the situation will be achieved through a range of actions – continued development of legal alternatives, education, and yes, law enforcement.
This week’s action sends an important message to would-be infringers of copyrighted works: this behavior will not be tolerated. On behalf of America’s songwriters and music publishers I express our gratitude for the efforts of law enforcement and their role in protecting the American marketplace to the benefit of all consumers.
