Patrick Leahy: “the successful adoption by the World Intellectual Property Organization [WIPO] of two new copyright treaties--one on…”

“the successful adoption by the World Intellectual Property Organization [WIPO] of two new copyright treaties--one on written material and one on sound recordings--in Geneva last December was appropriately lauded in the United States. The WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty will give a significant boost to the protection of intellectual property rights around the world, and stand to benefit important American creative industries--from movies, recordings, computer software and many other copyrighted materials that are subject to piracy on-line. According to Secretary Daley of the Department of Commerce, for the most part, ``the treaties largely incorporate intellectual property norms that are already part of U.S. law.'' What the treaties will do is give American owners of copyrighted material an important tool to protect their intellectual property in those countries that become a party to the treaties. With an ever-expanding global marketplace, such international protection is critical to protect American companies and, ultimately, American jobs and the U.S. economy. Over the past few months, I spoke and wrote to Secretary Daley urging him to transmit without delay the administration's proposal for implementing legislation. I am very pleased that earlier this week, the administration did so.”