U.S. Chamber Says the Digital Freedom Campaign Will Hurt Consumers and Technology Providers

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Caroline Joiner, executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's intellectual property (IP) initiative, issued the following statement regarding the launch of the so-called Digital Freedom Campaign by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), Public Knowledge, and the Media Access Project at a National Press Club event:

"The coalition led by the Consumers Electronics Association is pursuing a self-defeating strategy. Demolishing the rights of creative artists will hurt consumers and technology providers, not help them. Musicians, artists, filmmakers, and others won't produce rich, diverse content if they don't believe their creations will be adequately protected from IP theft and other unfair, illegal uses. Without content, the market for technology designed to deliver it will dry up quickly.

"The U.S. Chamber-whose membership includes both content creators and technology providers-is pursuing a policy that strikes the right balance between the need for the protection of IP and the fair, legal use of content. The Chamber is committed to protecting the technological and creative innovations that drive our economic growth and ensuring that these innovations are protected here and around the globe. We are committed to fight any effort that diminishes the rights granted to artists and innovators under U.S. copyright law. At the same time, we support the fair use of content by individuals as long as it is reasonable, equitable, and legal."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

www.uschamber.com

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