Political Quotes

“the Copyright Term Extension Act makes an important correction in our existing law to ensure that the intellectual property of artists across this land is protected, that it is not raided and misappropriated by people around the world to their benefit, without compensation to the original owner. It is therefore particularly contradictory and ironic that this rule will attach and permit attachment to this protection of intellectual property, what many people have come to call the Music Theft Act, a measure that is a separate freestanding piece of legislation that has nothing to do with copyright extension, but is being attached to the most convenient vehicle to steal the intellectual property of thousands of small businesspeople who are song writers in this land. This Music Theft Act is based on a very simple premise: If one cannot get someone else's property for free, then pass a law to allow them to steal it from them. It is particularly ironic that this Music Theft Act is being considered here on the floor of Congress at a time when we have just completed the great South By Southwest Music Festival that pulled together hundreds, indeed thousands of people interested in the music industry and what it contributes to the enjoyment of life here in America and how it spreads our American culture literally around the globe.”