BSA Applauds US Senate for Introduction of the New Copyright Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - The Business Software Alliance (BSA) President and CEO Robert Holleyman issued on Thursday the following statement on the Introduction of New Senate Copyright Bill.

“BSA and its members commend Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Arlen Specter (R-PA), John Cornyn (R-TX), George Voinovich (R-OH) and others for their leadership on Intellectual Property issues, as further illustrated today, with the introduction of the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Act of 2008.  This important legislation will go a long way to curbing software piracy which cost more than $48 billion around the globe. The bill will provide US law enforcement with new legal tools to combat software piracy and counterfeiting.  It will also provide much needed resources to investigate and prosecute IP crimes and expand the successful program of placing IP attaches in key US embassies around the globe.

“This bill recognizes that piracy hurts the US economy.  While the US has the lowest piracy rate around the globe – 20 percent – the dollar losses are staggering, with more than $8 billion in losses last year.  A recent IDC study found that by reducing software piracy in the US by 10 percentage points over the next four years, more than 32,000 new jobs could be generated, plus $41 billion in economic growth, and $7 billion in tax revenues.  We can get closer to recognizing these economic benefits through important legislation like the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Act.

“Again, we applaud Senators Leahy, Feinstein, Bayh, Specter, Cornyn, and Voinovich for their keen understanding of the importance of protecting software and other creative works, and look forward to working with them on this bill.”

The Business Software Alliance is the foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world. BSA is the voice of the world's software industry and its hardware partners before governments and in the international marketplace.