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Government Relations
BMI’s Government Relations office maintains a year-round campaign to protect copyright and expand copyright awareness across the United States. The challenge requires a great deal of attention to legislation in the U.S. Congress and to developing good working relationships with the administration in Washington, D.C.
The legislative challenge in the United States, however, extends far beyond the national legislature. It includes significant issues affecting BMI’s ability to do business in the 50 states and all American territories. Although major copyright legislation is reserved to the national government, the 50 state legislatures can – and in many cases have – considered legislation that can restrict licensing activities of a Performing Rights Organization at the local level.
Educating members of the Senate and House Committees that oversee intellectual property legislation in Washington is a clear priority. In 2006 a new Congress will be voted into office. We continue in our efforts to anticipate relevant issues in the 110th Congress.
BMI employs three lobbying firms in Washington, DC that specialize in intellectual property issues to help us carry our message to the crucial national legislators.
On the state level, BMI maintains a network of relationships with lobbying firms that are active on our behalf at the state level. Educating legislators within the 50 states is an equally important challenge. To achieve this goal, BMI’s Government Relations staff travels extensively for meetings with state government leaders. This strategy permits BMI to maintain an extensive network of personal relationships at the state level, and with good reason. The number of state legislative issues affecting BMI has increased; the challenges in the states are no longer centered solely on music licensing, but include taxation and other issues relating to music. BMI will continue to work directly with new legislators to educate them about the important role music plays in American society, and of the value of copyright protection.