Here's a very good summary I should have sent along with the link, as well as a press release from Public Knowledge:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Full study: http://www.ccianet.org/artmanager/uploads/1/FairUseStudy-Sep12.pdf Fair Use Economy Represents One-Sixth of U.S. GDP Sep 12, 2007 WASHINGTON D.C. - Fair Use exceptions to U.S. copyright laws are responsible for more than $4.5 trillion in annual revenue for the United States, according to the findings of an unprecedented economic study released today. According to the study commissioned by the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and conducted in accordance with a World Intellectual Property Organization methodology, companies benefiting from limitations on copyright-holders' exclusive rights, such as "fair use" - generate substantial revenue, employ millions of workers, and, in 2006, represented one-sixth of total U.S. GDP. The exhaustive report, released today at a briefing on Capitol Hill, quantifies for the first time ever the critical contributions of fair use to the U.S. economy. The timing proves particularly important as the debates over copyright law in the digital age move increasingly to center stage on Capitol Hill. As the report summarizes, in the past twenty years as digital technology has increased, so too has the importance of fair use. With more than $4.5 trillion in revenue generated by fair use dependent industries in 2006, a 31% increase since 2002, fair use industries are directly responsible for more than 18% of U.S. economic growth and nearly 11 million American jobs. In fact, nearly one out of every eight American jobs is in an industry that benefits from current limitations on copyright. "As the United States economy becomes increasingly knowledge-based, the concept of fair use can no longer be discussed and legislated in the abstract. It is the very foundation of the digital age and a cornerstone of our economy," said Ed Black, President and CEO of CCIA. "Much of the unprecedented economic growth of the past ten years can actually be credited to the doctrine of fair use, as the Internet itself depends on the ability to use content in a limited and nonlicensed manner. To stay on the edge of innovation and productivity, we must keep fair use as one of the cornerstones for creativity, innovation and, as today's study indicates, an engine for growth for our country" The Fair Use exception to U.S. copyright law, as codified in Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976 states, "The fair use of a copyrighted work ... is not an infringement of copyright." Fair use permits a range of activities that are critical to many high technology businesses such as search engines and software developmers. As the study indicates, however, fair use and related exceptions to copyright are crucial to non-technology industries as well, such as insurance, legal services, and newspaper publishers. The dependence of industries outside the high-tech field illustrates the crucial need for balanced copyright law. -- Mike Palmedo Research Coordinator Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property American University, Washington College of Law 4910 Massachutsetts Ave., NW Washington, DC 20016 T - 202-274-4442 | F 202-274-0659 mpalmedo at wcl.american.edu For immediate release September 12, 2007 Public Knowledge Praises Results of CCIA Economic Study on Fair Use The Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) today released the first major study showing that the sectors of the economy that depend on the "fair use" of copyrighted material make a significant contribution to the U.S. economy. The study is at http://www.ccianet.org. The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge: "CCIA should be congratulated for sponsoring this significant project. For years, the copyright industries have made their case for restricting the rights of consumers based on the argument that their industry makes a significant contribution to the economy that could be jeopardized by fair use rights. "The results are telling. While the content industries claim employment of 11.3 million workers in 2005, the CCIA study found industries depending on fair use employed 17.3 million people in 2006. While the copyright industries claim to have generated $1.3 trillion (or 11.2% of Gross Domestic Product), the CCIA study found that fair-use industries generated $2.2 trillion in 2006. "This report should guide policymakers and others who want to tilt further the copyright laws away from a reasonable balance between creators on the one hand and consumers and innovators on the other. The report presents a clear case that the harm to the economy could be more significant than previously thought by following a radical content industry policy that diminishes legitimate lawful use of copyrighted material." ________________________________________ Public Knowledge is a public-interest advocacy and education organization that seeks to promote a balanced approach to intellectual property law and technology policy. More information available is available at: http://www.publicknowledge.org -- Art Brodsky Communications Director Public Knowledge (202) 518-0020 ext 103 (o) (301) 908-7715 (c) 1875 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Suite 650 Washington, D.C. 20009 www.publicknowledge.org
