MPAA’s Dodd: Entertainment, tech industries should join forces
December 7, 2012
By Colin Mnn
Chris Dodd, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), has urged the entertainment and high tech industries to join forces to protect creativity and ensure an Internet that works for everyone.
Speaking during a keynote conversation during the Content Protection Summit produced by trade magazine Variety and the Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA), Dodd noted that those who seek to frame the debate about piracy as a choice between free speech and copyright protection are mistaken and that it is through innovation and collaboration between Hollywood, Silicon Valley, government and audiences that the problem can best be addressed.
Addressing delegates, Dodd suggested that Hollywood and Silicon Valley have more in common than most people realise, or are willing to acknowledge. “Not only does Hollywood work closely with Silicon Valley to create and promote films; Hollywood film and television creators are tech companies. They celebrate innovation through the world’s most cutting-edge content, and they embrace technology as imperative to the success of the creators in their community,” he averred.
“It’s time to reject the binary framing of the issues. The future isn’t about choosing between protecting free speech or intellectual property – it’s about protecting both,” he declared
Specifically referring to innovation at the heart of the film-making industry, Dodd suggested that the creative community was determined to create the easiest, fastest, safest, highest quality product and viewing experience possible. “Now more than ever, this community, the Hollywood community is demonstrating that it is a vital part of the innovation explosion, ” he suggested. “Content creators listen to their audience, and consistently strive to enhance the audience experience. Your creative community is continuously innovating, and they are hungry for more. Yet the content community also knows they cannot succeed without the work of the brilliant and creative minds behind new devices, Internet platforms, and other digital outlets,” he accepted.
“We can have it both ways. We can have an Internet that works for everyone. And in order to continue providing the world’s greatest content, we must protect the rights of our creators so they can produce for their audiences and also profit from their work,” he concluded.