Copyright Alliance Calls on Presidential Candidates to Support America's "Ideas Economy"

From the site:

WASHINGTON, November 20 - The Copyright Alliance today sent letters and questions to presidential candidates requesting information about their plans to maintain meaningful copyright protection and ensure the U.S. copyright industries continue to be the engines of economic growth and job creation they are today.

The letter and questionnaire were sent to 17 candidates seeking the presidential nomination of either the Democratic or Republican parties.

The Copyright Alliance has requested that responses from the candidates and their campaigns be provided by early next year and will make those responses available publicly on a date to be announced.

The Alliance is asking candidates to comment on five topics important to maintaining the strength of America’s Ideas Economy –

• the principle of copyright,


• the application of copyright law to the digital world,


• enforcement of copyright law,


• use of trade agreements to ensure a level playing field for U.S. industry worldwide, and


• free expression.

“The U.S. economy today is driven by ideas, whether they be born of research, technological innovation or the stroke of a pen or strum of a guitar,” said Patrick Ross, Copyright Alliance Executive Director. “This Ideas Economy is the backbone of job creation, growth and surplus trade. The copyright industries employ more than 11 million Americans and we want to call attention to the voices of these creators and the principles important to them among those seeking our nation’s highest office.”

The U.S. copyright industries in 2005 contributed $1.38 trillion to the U.S. economy, or more than 11 percent of U.S. GDP. With an annual growth rate of more than 7 percent, the total copyright industries’ growth is twice that of overall GDP. That growth leads to good quality, well-paying jobs. 11 million American are employed in the creative industries and earn on average $66,727 annually – as compared with the overall U.S. average of $49,828.

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