ASCAP and Sister Societies Meet with U.S. Legislators at CISAC World Copyright Summit
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Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA), with ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento looking on, speaks to the
CISAC Board and guests at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill |
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), who is Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, opened the second day of CISAC's World Copyright Summit with a keynote address that demonstrated his deep understanding of Intellectual Property rights and his commitment to protecting those rights in the digital era.
The second day of the conference emphasized the need and the desire for building a mutually beneficial and solid partnership between the copyright community and ISPs and technology companies. Several panelists, such as ASCAP Board member and Chairman and CEO of EMI Music Publishing Roger Faxon, who spoke on a panel about European Licensing, also stressed the need to work together to simplify licensing on a global scale.
Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), who is Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and who was scheduled to address the delegates, was unable to speak. In his stead, he sent his Chief of Staff, Perry Applebaum, who spoke eloquently about Conyers' love of music and his support for creators' rights.
After a closing speech by CISAC President Robin Gibb, ASCAP co-hosted a special reception and dinner for CISAC Board members, which included a trip to the Foreign Affairs Hearing Room in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill to meet with Congressman Howard Berman
(D-CA). Berman is Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee as well as Chairman of the House Judiciary on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property and has played a vital role in helping to protect copyrights.
Strong messages and Brilliant Jazz Highlight First Day of CISAC Copyright Summit
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Ann Hampton Callaway with vibraphonist Stefon Harris (left) perform at the Mellon Auditorium |
Read the speech that Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) gave to the delegates of the World Copyright Summit on June 9.
Dowload Speech
ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento vigorously defended the rights of songwriters, composers and music publishers on a panel that also included YouTube's Chief Counsel Zahavah Levine. On a creators panel, that also included a filmmaker, an artist and an author, ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams shared his insights and perspectives as a songwriter with ample dashes of wit and humor. In a glorious theater on the National Mall, Ann Hampton Callaway joined fellow jazz luminaries Stefon Harris and Joe Lovano, backed by the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, in dazzling the gathering of international delegates with one of America's greatest musical forms. These were all extraordinary highlights of the first full day of the CISAC World Copyright Summit in Washington DC. Through strong debate and brilliant music, ASCAP delivered its clear-throated message that it will continue to protect the rights of music creators in the digital age.
ASCAP Writers and Composers Help Kick off CISAC Copyright Summit
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Pictured (l-r) ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams, CISAC President Robin Gibb and ASCAP Board member Hal David |
ASCAP President and Chairman and songwriter Paul Williams, along with ASCAP Board members, songwriter Hal David and composer Stephen Paulus, joined with representatives from rights societies around the world in officially opening the CISAC World Copyright Summit at the Ronald Reagan Center in Washington DC on Monday, June 8. The two day summit brings together over 80 renowned creators and industry leaders representing creative industries to discuss the current state and future of copyright. ASCAP is a leading host and participant of the event, which is organized by CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers).
Follow live coverage of ASCAP at the World Copyright Summit
on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ascapmusic
ASCAP Advocates for Creator Rights at Global Copyright Summit
