Copyright Laws - Safeguarding a Unique American Industry
“Film and television production supports 2.4 million American jobs and contributes nearly $80 billion each year to the U.S. economy. Recognizing the importance of this unique American industry –– and other U.S. intellectual property industries – U.S. copyright laws embody one of the highest of international standards.” Federal Laws. Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. Retrieved November 14, 2012, from http://www.mpaa.org/contentprotection/copyright-laws/federal
There are multiple laws against piracy and some of the most important ones are:
· The Copyright Act of 1976
· The Piracy and Counterfeiting Amendments Act of 1982
· The Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984
· Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998
· The Family Entertainment and Copyright Act
The most recent ones are the DMCA and the FECA which are also the most abused ones by pirates.
Bill Clinton signed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in 1998 as an extension of the Copyright law. DMCA was designed to offer incentives to the creator of media content through laws. Many would say that the law is ineffective because the government does not enforce them, but if you get caught and prosecuted the punishments are harsh.
In 2005, the U.S government saw the increase of distribution of movies through recording them via personal camcorders in the theater. They took action by implementing the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act. First-time violators can be sentenced to up to five years for these crimes and fined up to $250,000.
The same counts for music piracy. “Making unauthorized copies of copyrighted music recordings is against the law and may subject you to civil and criminal liability. A civil law suit could hold you responsible for thousands of dollars in damages. Criminal charges may leave you with a felony record, accompanied by up to five years of jail time and fines up to $250,000.” (Gantz & Rochester, 204; www.RIAA.com)
There are multiple laws against piracy and some of the most important ones are:
· The Copyright Act of 1976
· The Piracy and Counterfeiting Amendments Act of 1982
· The Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984
· Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998
· The Family Entertainment and Copyright Act
The most recent ones are the DMCA and the FECA which are also the most abused ones by pirates.
Bill Clinton signed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in 1998 as an extension of the Copyright law. DMCA was designed to offer incentives to the creator of media content through laws. Many would say that the law is ineffective because the government does not enforce them, but if you get caught and prosecuted the punishments are harsh.
In 2005, the U.S government saw the increase of distribution of movies through recording them via personal camcorders in the theater. They took action by implementing the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act. First-time violators can be sentenced to up to five years for these crimes and fined up to $250,000.
The same counts for music piracy. “Making unauthorized copies of copyrighted music recordings is against the law and may subject you to civil and criminal liability. A civil law suit could hold you responsible for thousands of dollars in damages. Criminal charges may leave you with a felony record, accompanied by up to five years of jail time and fines up to $250,000.” (Gantz & Rochester, 204; www.RIAA.com)