WASHINGTON -- Hollywood has urged the Bush administration to redouble its efforts to stop piracy in foreign markets, even if that means withdrawing trade benefits or imposing economic sanctions.
In a wide-ranging report filed Friday with the U.S. Trade Representative, the Intl. Intellectual Property Alliance said that organized criminal syndicates dealing in the manufacture and distribution of pirated DVDs and CDs are on the rise at different points around the globe. Members of the IIPA include the Motion Picture Assn. of America, the Recording Industry Assn. of America and a number of other orgs repping Hollywood, publishing and software.
In particular, MPAA topper Jack Valenti wants the Bush administration to keep close tabs on piracy in Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand, three of the world's largest exporters of renegade DVDs.
IIPA's doc recommended that the trade rep office combat "this scourge" by conducting what's known as "out-of-cycle" reviews to ensure progress in the three nations throughout this year.
Taiwan is on the USTR's priority watch list because of piracy problems. The Taiwanese government has pledged to do a better job of cracking down on piracy. Last month, Taiwan enacted a new optical disc law and parallel enforcement plan.
An out-of-cycle review would allow the USTR to assess how well Taiwan is doing, and whether it should be taken off the priority watch list.
Last year, Malaysia was bumped one level down on the USTR's priority watch list to the regular watch list, after the government there stepped up enforcement of DVD piracy. Thailand also is on the regular watch list and needs a mid-year review to ensure that authorities defend and enforce piracy laws.
Both the MPAA and the RIAA also want the USTR to continue keeping a close eye on the Ukraine, home to widespread piracy. Last year, the USTR withdrew some of Ukraine's trading benefits and imposed $75 million in economic sanctions.
Also, the MPAA wants Lebanon to remain on the USTR's priority watch list, due to widespread cable piracy.
Valenti, who was in Germany over the weekend to attend closing ceremonies at the Berlin Film Festival, was scheduled to meet with high-ranking reps of the German government to discuss a number of issues, including digital piracy.
Valenti was expected to meet with Justice Minister Herta Daubler-Gmelin and Culture Minister Julius Nisa-Rumelin.
Contact Pamela McClintock at
pamela.mcclintock@variety.com