Arlington, Va. – The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is challenging an Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) study saying search engines aid in consumer infringement of online content.
Michael Petricone, CEA’s senior VP of government and regulatory affairs said in a statement, “This is a Hollywood formula as familiar as a rom-com: Blame the technology instead of providing your customers with the experiences and products they want. Yesterday, it was the VCR and the MP3 player. Today, it’s search engines, Aereo and the Dish Hopper.”
He continued, “Search engines don’t ‘introduce’ consumers to infringing content – most consumers simply want legal, conveniently accessed digital content at a reasonable price. Indeed, studies show that unauthorized downloading decreases as legal alternatives proliferate. Commercial piracy is wrong and illegal. Violators should be prosecuted under existing laws. But the answer is not restrictions on search engines or the ability of Internet users to access information.”
Petricone added, “The fact is that today, due to the Internet, artists can create, distribute, and monetize more content more easily than ever before. Rather than assailing innovators, we urge the content community to work with the tech industry to provide new, exciting and authorized distribution platforms to consumers.”
