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IIPA urges copyright piracy action

February 11, 2014

By Colin Mann

Overseas copyright piracy and market access barriers to US copyrighted products and services have a significant negative financial impact on the US economy and content creators, according to a submission made by the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) a coalition of trade associations representing US copyright‐based industries working to improve international protection and enforcement of copyright materials and to open foreign markets closed by piracy and other market access barriers.

The submission, made to the US Trade Representative (USTR) as part of its annual Special 301 process, recommends reforms needed to address the theft of intellectual property and other barriers to overseas markets faced by US industries that rely on copyright protection to produce movies, TV programming, music, software, video games, and books and journals. The submission:
•    Documents online and hard goods piracy of copyright materials as well as market access barriers in 46 markets
•    Recommends that Ukraine be maintained as a USTR‐designated Priority Foreign Country.
•    Recommends nine countries, including China, India, Russia, and Vietnam, for placement on USTR’s Priority Watch List.
•    Recommends 19 other countries for placement on USTR’s Watch List.
•    Highlights 12 key copyright and market access challenges faced by US industries as they seek to reach foreign markets.

According to IIPA Counsel, “Modern and effective copyright protection and enforcement will permit US copyright industries to continue and increase their huge contributions to US jobs, exports, and economic growth. The Special 301 process shines a light on markets and market conditions that undermine creativity and innovation. This year’s IIPA Special 301 report identifies these markets and presents solutions to help American creators and companies that produce and publish copyright materials – music, motion pictures and television programming, business and entertainment software, and books and journals – and bring benefits to the US economy, in terms of increased US exports, the creation of good high‐wage jobs here at home, and overall contributions to US economic growth. Improved intellectual property protections and enforcement will also help grow the creative sectors and the economies of US trading partners highlighted in the report.”

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