Rep. Chu Praises MPAA's New Study on Role of Search Engines in Introducing Audiences to Infringed Content Online

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) joined MPAA Chairman and CEO Senator Chris Dodd, along with Reps. Howard Coble (R-NC), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to release the results of a new study examining the role search engines play in introducing audiences to infringing TV shows and movies online. Rep. Chu released the following statement:

"I applaud the MPAA for their efforts to address online piracy of movies and television shows. It is clear from this study that search engines play a key role in connecting consumers with infringed content, undercutting the ability of creators to receive pay for their work. Online infringement diminishes our economic competitiveness and costs us jobs. In fact, American workers and individual creators lose $16.3 billion in earnings annually to copyright piracy, with about 141,000 lost jobs in the motion picture industry alone. As co-chair of Creative rights caucus, I am committed to fighting online piracy to preserve and protect the creative community."

The MPAA's study, "Understanding the Role of Search in Online Piracy," can be found here.