Why has copyright remained a part of our law and our culture for so
long? Because it is vital to a healthy economy, to the preservation of
artistic and creative works for all to enjoy, to the creation of new
technologies, and to all of us having a vast array of cultural choices.
When artists are confident in their ownership of their creations, they
feel able to make them available to a larger audience. Often they’ll
work with a producer or distributor. The wider the distribution the
more reasonable the pricing, which in turn encourages all of us to go
out and buy, read, watch – just plain enjoy – the work before us. Much
of the revenue that comes from our appreciation and willingness to
watch a creative work goes back to all who worked to make the original
vision a reality.
The digital age brings a multitude of opportunities for the creators of
copyrighted works as well as their producers and distributors. New
business models are being developed every day to create, distribute and
market artistic works. We tend to hear a lot about how modern
technology is harming the creators of copyrighted works – and plenty of
harms do occur – but that doesn’t imply that technology itself is bad.
Strong copyright protections do not stop individual creators from
taking advantage of advances in digital technologies to bring us
creative works we can enjoy in ways we never imagined. Technology and
copyright protection need not be at odds with each other. They can both
work to the benefit of all of us.
Have you ever heard somebody say, “Of course, we want to see artists
get paid,” and then they follow that with a phrase beginning with
“but”? Generally the “but” and what follows it, implies a belief that
copyright protections are not really important any more. That belief
can begin to erode or even eliminate the intellectual property rights
accorded to creators in the U.S. Constitution and through global
treaties. The U.S. Congress in 1790 — in one of its first major acts
— passed the first Copyright Act. They did that because they felt it
was vital to a newly created and growing country that embodied a belief
in the rights of the individual. That wisdom is as true today. If
anyone ever says they want to see artists get paid, remind them we
already have a system that does that, and it has been doing so
successfully for 217 years. It has helped make our American creative
culture unique and great, and it will continue to do so.
COPYRIGHT FACTS
Economic Impact of Copyright & Intellectual Property
The U.S. copyright industries alone employ more than 11 million Americans in fields as diverse as photography, engineering, accounting and printing. (Source: Economists Incorporated 2006 Report “Copyright Industries in the U.S. Economy”)
The copyright industries add an estimated $1.38 trillion to the U.S. economy each year. (Source: SAA)
Foreign sales by the U.S. copyright industries exceed exports of other sectors including motor vehicles, parts and accessories; medicines and pharmaceutical products, and food. (Source: SAA)
U.S. intellectual property is worth $5-5.5 trillion – more than the gross GDP of any other country (Source: USA for Innovation study “The Economic Value of Intellectual Property”)
IP comprises more than half of all U.S. exports, driving 40 percent of the country’s economic growth. (Source: U.S. Department of Commerce)
Cost of Piracy
Global theft of ideas-driven works costs the copyright industries at least:
• $58 billion in lost revenue each year
• $16. 3 billion in lost wages annually
• 373,375 in lost jobs
• $2.6 billion in lost tax revenue
(Source: Economics Incorporated 2007 “The True Cost of Copyright Industry Piracy to the U.S. Economy” for the Institute for Policy Innovation)
For more information, please visit http://www.copyrightalliance.org.
Cass Classics 
Leave a comment