Google has reason to rethink IP

Most importantly, the IP industries create products that are enjoyed the world over—games, movies, books, and of course, music. Yet every year, as broadband technology advances, intellectual property thieves become increasingly more sophisticated. The assaults grow more ferocious. The broader the broadband, the easier to steal copyrighted works.

Like our friends at Google, we fully support the adoption of broadband and the new and exciting opportunities it provides for consumers to enjoy movies, television programs and music. We in the IP industries couldn’t live without these amazing technologies. In fact, digital accounts for a greater percentage of music industry revenues than movies, books and newspapers combined. We are partners with technology companies in the fullest sense of the word.

In the music industry alone, music labels have licensed hundreds of digital partners that offer a range of models: download and subscription services, social networking sites, cable and satellite radio services, Internet radio webcasting, legitimate peer-to-peer services, video-on-demand, podcasts and a myriad of audio and video downloads.

Yet there is no question that despite our extensive and innovative offerings of legal content, the levels of online and physical theft around the world extract a profound toll. That activity has a direct and harmful impact on American jobs and our economy. And as Google has found out, this illegal activity is exacerbated by the unwillingness of some—including some businesses and even some governments—to take reasonable steps to address these problems. As we know too well, IP theft has “enablers” all over the place.

If it is in the national interest to protect the millions of Americans who use Google’s services—and it is —it is also in the national interest to stop the theft of intellectual property. But doing so requires cooperation by other industries and a commitment on the part of government to take reasonable steps, both at home and abroad, to combat the harmful economic effects of IP theft.

Working with our partners in business and in government, we hope to ensure that the American intellectual property community remains a strong, vibrant world leader that helps fuel our nation’s economic resurgence. With the light shining on Google, one of the 21st century’s business icons, perhaps we will see a renewed sense of purpose at home and abroad to protect the heritage and the future of our IP community.

And who knows, maybe Google will lock arms with us so we can say, “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

Mitch Bainwol is Chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America.