FC: Net media firms need protection against "signal piracy" --DIMA

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

See also:

Asians Affirm Internet Treaties Against Piracy
Oct. 25, 2001 09:35 ET
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/171502.html

----- Forwarded message from bhoyt () brodeur com -----

From: bhoyt () brodeur com
Subject: DiMA Statement Re: EU Proposal to WIPO
To: declan
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 14:32:56 -0500

November 26, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:

Brian E. Hoyt
Brodeur Worldwide (for DiMA)
202.715.0503 PH
202.246.5435 CELL
bhoyt () brodeur com


European Union Proposal to WIPO Would Grant Internet Media Companies
Protections Against "Signal Piracy" Equal to Traditional Broadcasters

DiMA Supports Europe's Direction and Encourages US Officials to Take
Similar Action

WASHINGTON, DC - Jonathan Potter, Executive Director of the Digital Media
Association (DiMA), issued the following statement on today's opening of a
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) meeting of more than 100
nations in Geneva, Switzerland:

"The Digital Media Association (DiMA) strongly supports the approach of the
European Union's proposed "broadcast rights" treaty language which will be
considered this week by WIPO.  The EU approach would provide traditional
anti-piracy protection to broadcast signals regardless of the transmission
technology used to distribute these broadcasts.  DiMA welcomes the EU
approach that puts webcasting and Internet transmissions on the same
footing as traditional radio and television broadcasting.

"This is an historic opportunity to set a new framework for how regulatory
bodies define broadcasting, media, and the protection of intellectual
property."

"Since our inception in 1998, DiMA has been an active advocate before WIPO
and other organizations for intellectual property protection regimes that
are consistent across all technology platforms.

"Specifically, DiMA has encouraged WIPO's consideration of a possible new
international treaty to protect the rights of broadcasters, including
webcasters, against piracy of their broadcast signals, whether those
signals are delivered by wire or by wireless technology.

"The EU approach is consistent with DiMA's objectives to have a new
inclusive treaty that would grant equivalent intellectual property
protections to both established and new media.  Any other approach would
suggest that copyrighted content has different value merely because it is
broadcast by terrestrial broadcast, cable, satellite or the Internet.

"The EU's forward-looking approach will assure that a new broadcaster
rights treaty, which is likely to be in force for several decades, will
protect the growing Internet webcasting industry - an industry in which
both traditional radio and television companies participate fully.
Anything less would make a new treaty obsolete before adoption.

"DiMA encourages the United States government to support the EU approach at
this week's WIPO conference, and to ensure that U.S. policy does not
discriminate against new media.  This is critically important as new
technologies and new forms of digital media transmission change the
landscape for consumers of entertainment goods and services."

###


The Digital Media Association (www.digmedia.org) is the only trade
association that exclusively represents companies that develop and utilize
digital technologies to perform, distribute, protect and manage
entertainment content.  On behalf of the digital media industry and our
member companies, DiMA supports public policies and business practices that
encourage technological innovation, creativity and consumer value.


----- End forwarded message -----



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