Bono and Pickering Lead Fight To End Overseas Piracy

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In an effort to curb overseas piracy of domestic intellectual property, Congresswoman Mary Bono (R-CA) and Congressman Chip Pickering (R-MS) urged President George Bush and Ambassador Peter F. Allgeier, the acting U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), to seek greater U.S. intervention with China on copyright and patent protection issues.  Their letter, which has 46 bipartisan co-signers, was sent directly to the President today.   

 

The letter was written in response to China's failure to work with the United States and the World Trade Organization (WTO) to stop intellectual property piracy within their country.  The letter specifically asks the USTR to initiate consultations with China in the WTO to encourage them to follow international law by providing deterrents and criminal penalties on willful copyright and patent piracy violations.  If consultations are not successful, the letter requests the USTR to establish a WTO dispute settlement panel in order to persuade China to provide the deterrents required by the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) agreement.

 

"Intellectual property is the creative force behind much of America's economic prosperity," said Congresswoman Bono.  "It is our responsibility to protect creative material from piracy both within our boarders as well as overseas.  China's disregard for international piracy law threatens the livelihood of individuals and businesses across the U.S.  It is time for our government to speak on behalf of those at risk and put an end to this rampant copyright infringement," added Bono.

 

“One of the great products of American freedom and opportunity is the prosperity of creativity," said Congressman Chip Pickering.  "Our entertainment and information industries produce world quality music and movies and literature and software.  But our companies can not compete when their products are stolen and pirated and the creators and investors no longer profit from their innovations. Nations like China that ignore their international commitments, and turn a blind eye to the criminal interests inside their borders, must act to protect these materials, and abide by international law,” added Pickering.

 

"Without question, the current state of affairs in China is in dire need of attention," said Mitch Bainwol, Chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America.

"Again and again, the Chinese government has failed to follow through on meaningful copyright protection and enforcement against the widespread piracy of our industry’s products. Chinese pirate businesses are being built on the backs of the American music community, and this blatant disregard for the protection of intellectual property is taking a heavy toll. The magnitude of this theft demands immediate action, and we greatly appreciate the heightened attention of our nation’s political leaders to this pressing issue," added Bainwol.

 

“As someone who helped pass legislation to give China permanent and normal trade relations with the United States, and helped usher in China’s membership into the World Trade Organization, I grow increasingly concerned about the growing influence of piracy on the Chinese economy'" said Dan Glickman.  "As President and CEO of the Motion Picture Association, I am especially concerned about widespread movie piracy.  The prevalence of movie piracy not only hurts the bottom lines of our American companies.  It hurts the economic future of China, by undermining the rule of law, by promoting the black market, by damaging the domestic Chinese movie industry, and by diminishing the respect for a civil society at large,” added Glickman.