Controversial report on copyright-related industry

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By Paul Biba

Ars Technica has a short article on a new study released by the Intellectual Property Alliance. The study purports to show that the copyright-related industry is doing well and, as such:

“Of one thing we are certain,” the report reads. “The creative and knowledge-based industries, and our economy as a whole, will benefit significantly from continuing the fight against global copyright piracy.” Elsewhere, its author argues that “Economic reports such as this are but one piece of evidence that governments should use to justify far more effective legal and enforcement regimes to promote and foster the growth of the content-based industries in their national economies.

However this conclusion is roundly disputed by such organizations as the Computer & Communications Industry Association:

“We reject the implicit suggestion that more and more copyright protection is necessarily better,” and elsewhere arguing, “We don’t need more copyright—we need smarter copyright.” The founder of the consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge wondered why, if the industry is apparently booming, it needs extra protection, stating, “Because the industries are doing so well, we believe their Draconian public-policy agenda is unnecessary.

You can find the original report here (PDF).

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