Press Release 29 April 2009
Senators Leahy and Hatch, Congressman Conyers and French Minister of Culture Albanel to Address Creative Rights Policies at World Copyright Summit
United States policy makers, French Minister of Culture to join creators and industry leaders to debate policy challenges surrounding copyright issues in a new digital age
Washington, D.C. (April 29, 2009) – Today, CISAC (the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) announced the participation of major U.S., European and Asian copyright policy makers and world-renowned creators during the second World Copyright Summit (9 & 10 June 2009, Washington, DC). The Summit will provide an international forum for all parties involved in the production, licensing and dissemination of creative works to debate the future of copyright and creative industries in the digital era.
“Creative works, fostered by our nation’s intellectual property laws, have long been recognized as engines that drive the United States economy,” said United States Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Protecting creativity and promoting innovation in the Information Age are important components of our economic recovery efforts.”
Senator Leahy will be joined by his colleagues, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) to discuss the policy implications of intellectual property and copyright in a digital and evolving environment. As Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Conyers also oversees what had previously been the work of the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property. In addition to his position on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Hatch is a platinum songwriter, having sold over 1 million albums.
Internet Service Providers’ (ISP) responsibility in the fight against online piracy is a much debated topic worldwide. Christine Albanel, the French Minister of Culture and Communication, will address the foundations of the French bill “Creation and Internet” and discuss how this legislation advances a global vision for the future of creative industries. Yong-Kyung Lee, Member of the National Assembly of Korea and former President & CEO of Korean Telecom, will discuss the recently adopted a “graduated response” law against Internet copyright infringement.
A line-up of more than 80 speakers representing a variety of positions will discuss the importance of copyright protection and the distribution of creative content in the digital era. Robin Gibb, U.K. legendary singer and songwriter of the Bee Gees and President of CISAC, will be joined at the World Copyright Summit by such creators and artists as U.S. songwriter and performer Lamont Dozier, U.S. film director and screenwriter Miloš Forman, world renowned U.S. painter and sculptor Frank Stella, U.S. songwriter, recording artist and actor Paul Williams, French visual artist and painter Hervé Di Rosa, Mexican musician and composer Armando Manzanero and Spanish screenwriter and director Fernando Trueba.
Page 2
Key industry speakers include; David C. Drummond, senior vice-president of legal affairs at Google; Roger Faxon, chairman & CEO of EMI Music Publishing; Michael Heller, law professor and author of “The Gridlock Economy”; Zahavah Levine, chief counsel of YouTube and associate general counsel of Google; Suzan Mann, senior director of intellectual property policy of Microsoft Corporation; Marybeth Peters, U.S. Register of Copyright; David Renzer, chairman & CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group; Richard Sarnoff, president of Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments and chairman of the Association of American Publishers; Gary Shapiro, president & CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association; and many others representing Copyright Alliance, MPAA, NAB, NCAA, Public Knowledge, Real Networks and RIAA.
Also joining creators, policy-makers and industry speakers in the debate will be the CEOs of major performing rights organizations and audiovisual guilds around the world, including the 10 U.S. members of CISAC who strongly support the event: AMRA (American Mechanical Rights Agency), ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.), NMPA (National Music Publishers’ Association), and SESAC, in the music sector; DGA (Directors Guild of America) and WGA (Writers Guild of America) in the film sector; ARS (Artists Rights Society) and VAGA (Visual Artists and Galleries Association) representing visual artists; and The Authors Registry for literary rights.
The 2009 World Copyright Summit is organized by CISAC and supported by U.S. rights organizations and guilds as well as numerous partner organizations. For more information about the conference program and registration, please visit www.copyrightsummit.com
##
About CISAC, the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers
Chaired by Robin Gibb, legendary singer and songwriter of the Bee Gees, and Alfonso Cuarón, Mexican award-wining filmmaker, CISAC aims to increase both the recognition and protection of creators’ rights worldwide. In a global and digital world, CISAC’s main missions are to reinforce the international network of copyright societies, to be the spokesperson for creators and their societies in all international debates and to reassert authors’ inalienable right to live by their creative work.
With a membership of 222 authors’ societies in 118 countries, CISAC is an international NGO and represents more than 2.5 million creators and publishers of artistic works in all genres including music, audiovisual, drama, literature, photography and the visual arts.
In 2007, the royalties collected by CISAC’s member societies in their respective territories topped $9.7 billion (7.141€). For more information, please visit www.cisac.org
Media Contact
Kaci Farrell, APCO Worldwidekfarrell@apcoworldwide.com +1 (202) 778 1305
Marianne Rollet, CISACmarianne.rollet@cisac.org +33 (0) 1 55 62 08 57
