[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 87 (Friday, June 20, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S6048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  COPYRIGHT TERM EXTENSION ACT OF 1997

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, today, I rise to express my 
support for the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1997. This legislation 
enjoyed unanimous support from members of the Judiciary Committee and I 
am hopeful the full Senate will share our views.
  In the area of copyrights, patents, and other sources of intellectual 
property, our Nation is now at a tremendous competitive disadvantage in 
the global marketplace. Despite the fact the United States is the 
worldwide leader in intellectual property production, American authors, 
musicians, filmmakers, and other creative artists will not get their 
fair share of royalties due to them. Simply stated, U.S. copyright law 
protects the life of the author plus 50 years. In the European Union 
[EU], however, copyright terms cover life plus 70 years. Here lies the 
problem.
  Four years ago the European Union issued a directive mandating member 
countries to implement a copyright term of protection equal to the life 
of the author plus 70 years by July 1, 1995. Currently eight countries 
in the EU have complied with this policy and many others are following 
suit.
  With the advent of the Internet, digital communications, increased 
satellite technology, and other communications devices, the longevity 
of creative works has dramatically increased. Now anyone in the world 
can access and use an American work with merely a click of a finger. 
Because of these high-technology machines, the United States continues 
to see dramatic rises in illegal duplication cases and millions of 
dollars lost.
  The Copyright Term Extension Act will reverse this disturbing trend 
by putting Americans at an equal footing with the rest of the world. 
This important legislation gives U.S. copyright owners parity with the 
European Union by adopting a life plus 70 year term. I strongly feel 
this act will help balance the inadequacies that currently exist 
between the United States and the European Union.

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