House Legislation on Rogue Sites Welcomed by Songwriting and Music Publishing Industry

October 26, 2011


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 26, 2011

WASHINGTON— A bill introduced today in the U.S. House of Representatives would combat online piracy with new enforcement tools and help boost America’s music industry, the National Music Publishers’ Association said today.

“The Internet is an important tool which has opened opportunities for our industry from distribution to marketing to connecting with fans, but there is a segment of web operators who are criminals, pure and simple, and we must do more to stop them,” said NMPA President and CEO David Israelite. “Current laws tie the hands of both law enforcement and judicial personnel in many instances, to the detriment of American business and consumers.

Legislation introduced today in the U.S. House would help fix that, enabling our justice system to go after criminal operatives. The music publishing and songwriting communities support these efforts and urge the entire House to move this important bill forward soon.”

The bill, H.R. 3261 The Stop Online Piracy Act, was introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) and multiple cosponsors.

It would “promote prosperity, creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation by combating the theft of U.S. property”.

About the NMPA

Founded in 1917, the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) is the trade association representing American music publishers and their songwriting partners. The NMPA’s mandate is to protect and advance the interests of music publishers and songwriters in matters relating to the domestic and global protection of music copyrights.