Chuck Hagel: “on September 10, 1998, in my role as Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Economic Policy, Export and Trade…”

“on September 10, 1998, in my role as Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Economic Policy, Export and Trade Promotion, I chaired the Foreign Relations Committee hearing on two important treaties that the Senate will ratify today. I refer to the World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty (WCT) and the World Intellectual Property Organization Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT), collectively known as the WIPO Treaties, done at Geneva on December 20, 1996, and signed by the United States on April 12, 1997. These treaties will play a key role in assuring U.S. global competitiveness in the electronic commerce marketplace of the 21st century. The purpose of the WIPO Treaties is to respond to the challenges of protecting copyrighted works, performances and sound recordings in the realm of digital technology. The adoption of these treaties represents a major step toward achieving adequate protection of intellectual property in the growing global economy. Bringing these treaties into effect will greatly facilitate global electronic commerce, and will facilitate exports and foreign sales of U.S. copyrighted materials in markets around the world.”