Patrick Leahy: “today, in the waning hours of this Congress, the Senate has passed legislation that will improve important parts of our…”

“today, in the waning hours of this Congress, the Senate has passed legislation that will improve important parts of our intellectual property law. Sponsored by myself, as well as by Senators Hatch, Cornyn, Biden, and Feinstein, the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act of 2004 is the product of many months of bipartisan effort. Many of its provisions have passed the Senate before, others have passed the House, and the package enjoys the well- justified support of the many stakeholders. I am especially grateful for the assistance and support of our colleagues in the House of Representatives as we have tried to craft a broad, consensus bill. Intellectual property is one of the driving forces in our Nation's economy, but if we do not continue to protect it, we will lose our place as the global leader in its production. Just as importantly, the United States enjoys the fruits of the labors of a multitude of creative and talented artists and inventors. Our arts and sciences bring not only monetary revenue to the country, but deep artistic satisfaction and rewards on a cultural level. The Digital Age has great potential to bring more of each.”