Business
CreativeFuture Sponsors Petition in Support of Strong Copyright Protections in the North American Free Trade Agreement (MESA)
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A petition sponsored by CreativeFuture has gathered over 50,000 signatures and counting in support of strong copyright protections remaining a key element in any renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The petition explains that “the creative communities cannot afford to risk the jobs of millions of Americans by allowing weak provisions to enter a trade
agreement that will define American exports for decades to come.”
CreativeFuture CEO Ruth Vitale said, “We must demand that strong intellectual property protections, consistent with previous trade agreements, remain in any renegotiation of NAFTA. Now that negotiations are here, our representatives in government must begin discussions with the strongest hand possible.”
Said USAlliance For Music Executive Director Michel Kains, “As negotiators come together to discuss important provisions within NAFTA that impact the livelihoods of countless American creators, we urge U.S. officials not to bow to the agenda of behemoth Silicon Valley companies like Google seeking to undermine American exports and crucial copyright protections for their own
gain. That’s why a loud chorus of more than 50,000 creators are calling on Ambassador Lighthizer to be heard –a new NAFTA should protect U.S. creators, not hurt them.”
Vitale added, “Limiting the property rights of U.S. creatives under the guise of “balance” means foreign companies can use U.S. creative property without any payment to U.S. rights holders. This is no way to conducta negotiation. Instead, t’s a great way to grow our trade deficit on the back of the creative communities!”
