Industries that rely on fair use exceptions to copyright law grew faster than the rest of the U.S. economy from 2002 to 2007, expanded 5 percent and accounted for 23 percent of real economic growth, according to a new Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) economic study entitled “Fair Use in the U.S. Economy.” The study was released the day after Intellectual Property Day, and drew a distinctly different conclusion to another study released the day prior by the Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) entitled “The Impact of Innovation and the Role of IP Rights on U.S. Productivity, Competitiveness, Jobs, Wages and Exports.”
The Computer & Communications Industry Association commissioned the study conducted using publicly available government data and World Intellectual Property Organization methodology. It found companies benefiting from limitations on copyright-holders’ exclusive rights, such as “fair use” – generated revenue of $4.7 trillion in 2007 – a 36 percent increase over 2002 revenue of $3.4 trillion. The most significant growth over this period was in Internet publishing and broadcasting, web search portals, electronic shopping, electronic auctions and other financial investment activity.
As for jobs, employment in fair use industries grew from 16.9 million in 2002 to 17.5 million in 2007. One out of eight U.S. workers is employed by a company that benefits from protections provided by fair use and industries relying on fair use and other copyright exceptions make up one-sixth of the U.S. economy, according to the report. The report updates a comprehensive 2007 study that shows the importance of fair use.
Via the Hill
