In a bizarre speech before the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, NBC Universal CEO Bob Wright said that the threat of piracy to the economic security of America is almost the same as the threat terrorism is to the nation's security. He called for political and corporate leaders to make war on piracy and counterfeiting with a will close to that as the war on terror (this guy needs some medication to calm him down).
According to the Hollywood Reporter he said:
"At risk is every sector of the economy where creativity, innovation and invention drive the creation of economic value and high-wage jobs, if we do not step up our efforts to protect the foundation of future economic growth, our nation and our children have a bleak future. This issue needs to be moved up on the agenda of every business leader, every trade organization and every congressional office."
His buzz words are written like a script: creativity, innovation and invention...then he adds high-wage jobs to the mix. Then he suddenly adds that the very foundation of future economic growth is no less at stake. Of course he added his tremendous concern for our children and their bleak future if these issues aren't resolved. These are the same studios that have released "Jackass 2" and "Beerfest," on behalf of our children of course.
Dean Cox / AP file
He even has somebody to do a study that he presented to the Chamber that shows that the entertainment industry has more impact than previously believed. Wow. Good thing he let us in on that one.
It gets even more stupid. Wright goes on to say that piracy also increases the federal deficit because "it costs $837 billion in lost tax dollars, $5.5 billion in lost wages and costs 141,030 jobs." He's even an economist now!
In spite of the fact that the legislature passed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in 1998 (a victory for ISP's), Wright claims that they will have to accept responsibility for being a conduit. Responsibility to who Bob? You? NBC Universal?
It sounds like Sheriff Bob needs to get off of what he's smoking and begin to accept the new realities. Many others in the industry understand what is happening and are at least making efforts to profit from it. NBC Universal and Bob Wright seem to think that they can buck the entire change in the industry. They are wrong! If they can't make the change then they need to get some new leadership that can.
The outrageous, inflammatory rhetoric of Wright is presented by a CEO, company and evidently industry bordering on hysteria.
Isn't it about time this nonsense stops?
I agree that Wright's talk exaggerates terribly.
But you should note that the Hollywood Reporter exaggerates a bit, too. The report Wright cites--available at www.ipi.org/--claims the lost tax revenue equals 837 million dollars, not 837 billion.
Posted by: Craig Newmark | September 30, 2006 10:02 AM | Permalink to Comment