On May 12, 2011, the Protect IP Act was introduced to the United States Senate. This act is designed to protect Intellectual Property, from copyright infringement, illegal copying, distribution, showing, downloading, trading and more. This is not just from individuals but from international businesses and other countries. China is one of the leading violators of intellectual property rights. It appears the Chinese have a national policy of stealing from others but is very capable of enforcing these laws if it is a Chinese company.
Businesses and countries have a challenging time enforcing the existing laws when countries such as China have a clear policy to not cooperate in the enforcement of the laws. With China owning large amounts of other countries debts it views this as a license to steal. Much of the pirated materials or knock off items you find on the streets of NY originate in China. Chinese companies without start-up, production, research & development, and marketing cost are able to manufacture very similar items and sell them at a fraction of the cost. This tactic cost legitimate companies billions annually.
The MPAA has produced some figures to prove why it is an important association and why the industry is valuable.
- We support a national community of 2.4 million workers — costume designers to make-up artists, stuntmen to set builders, writers to actors, accountants to dry cleaners — employed in all 50 states of our union.
- We are a powerful engine of economic growth that contributes more than $180 billion annually to the U.S. economy.
- We are an industry overwhelmingly comprised of middle-class workers earning a living wage.
- We are a professional community that contributes more than $15 billion annually to federal and state tax coffers.
- We are one of the few industries to run a positive balance of trade in virtually every country in which we do business.
It is these types of facts that provide the organization with strength and leverage in dealing with other organizations, selling it's services to members, countries, and politicians. While most filmmakers worry more about governments over taxing their profits, their biggest concerns today deal with copyright and intellectual property enforcement. It will be beyond challenging for a filmmaker or studio to earn a profit if street vendors and computer hackers from New York to Honk Kong are allowed to sell pirated copies. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas simply would not be capable of protecting themselves from this international crime. The MPAA must adapt to ever changing technology and varying formats to protect the legitimate members of the industry.
According to the MPAA, "approximately ninety percent of newly released movies that are pirated can be traced to thieves who use a digital recording device in a movie theater to literally steal the image and/or sound off the screen. Camcorder theft is one of the biggest problems facing the film industry. All it takes is one camcorder copy to trigger the mass reproduction and distribution of millions of illegal Internet downloads and bootlegs in global street markets just hours after a film’s release and well before it becomes available for legal rental or purchase from legitimate suppliers."
It is daunting to think of how difficult a mission the MPAA and its partners face in protecting themselves from piracy. They have stepped up surveillance and awareness in theaters, constantly check online file sharing sites, and are working on numerous legislation with many countries to help stop piracy.
Unlike many professional organizations the MPAA is necessary and valuable to its members.
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