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Comprehensive Cybersecurity To Be Priority In New Congress
From Dec. 8–11 both chambers of the 113th Congress pushed to close their session, passing five cybersecurity bills in the process: S. 1353, S. 1691, S. 2519, S. 2521, H.R. 2952, all of which were signed into law by President Barack Obama on Dec. 18. S. 1353 authorizes public entities' cybersecurity partnership with the private sector, while the latter four mostly add the support of formal statutory language to existing public initiatives, notably for the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center. Commending the passage of the latter bills, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said, "Congress this week has shown great overall support for this department and its missions." Looming in the background over these successes was the ongoing exposure of this month's Sony hack, a historic first in the scope of the data theft and the public's awareness of this still-developing story. "Congress as a whole must … finally pass long-overdue comprehensive cybersecurity legislation," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). "I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the coming year to make this matter a priority." One new venue to further the subject will be the House Oversight Committee's Subcommittee on Information Technology. As announced on Dec. 17, the subcommittee will start its work in the 114th Congress and its jurisdiction will be "federal IT procurement, cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, emerging technologies, and intellectual property, among other issues." Republicans have an opportunity with cybersecurity to contrast the urgency of the threat with the Democratic administration's limited progress to date, an angle that could drive significant progress next session, coping with the harm Internet hackers can cause by victimizing American and international businesses. The music industry was the first to be hit hard by Internet data theft. The business of music has finally begun to harness the digital environment, but meanwhile online lawbreakers' potential to damage the U.S. economy has grown dramatically.

U.S. Copyright Economy Adds More Than $1.1 Trillion Annually
The International Intellectual Property Alliance on Dec. 17 released its latest "Copyright Industries In The U.S. Economy" report, prepared by Stephen E. Siwek, a principal at Economists Incorporated. Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), a co-chair of the Congressional Creative Rights Caucus and keynote speaker at a GRAMMY Town Hall earlier this year, summarized the findings: "Employing more than 5.5 million people, our creative industries contributed more than a trillion dollars to our economy last year. This is a significant portion of our GDP, none of which would be possible without strong copyright protections." The "trillion" figure was first surpassed in last year's report, with this year's figure tabulated at $1.1 trillion. The rate of growth of the creative industries was more than a full percentage point higher than the overall U.S. economy since 2009. IIPA's Steven J. Metalitz said, "The numbers clearly demonstrate what is at stake when it comes to devising sound copyright policy ... the gains from the copyright industries ripple across our entire economy."

Cuba Embargo Remains But U.S. Begins To Normalize Relations
On Dec. 17 President Obama announced a change to U.S. relations with Cuba, revealing steps toward normalization of diplomatic relations that were assisted by Canada and Pope Francis. The U.S. trade embargo with Cuba can only be lifted by Congress, but through cooperation — which has already included prisoner exchanges — the two governments can still make progress. One example is to remain within the 12 categories of general travel license that are already authorized, but expand the program with more easily obtained licenses. This has been a burdensome issue in the past that even 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards nominees Beyoncé and Jay Z were subjected to a review by the Treasury Department regarding the legality of their 2013 trip to Cuba. Speculations about new opportunities for the music industry are inevitable because of the talent-rich Cuban music community. The Cuban people are also potential music consumers who will soon be receiving more dollars in remittances from family in the United States. With only 5 percent of its population online, digital music could thrive as diplomacy helps more Cubans cross the digital divide. For older members of the U.S. Cuban community as well as people with strong anti-communist sentiments, Obama's move is perceived as a capitulation to an undemocratic government that still deprives Cubans of many basic freedoms. But the 15th Latin GRAMMYs recently showed the promise of a free Cuba when Enrique Iglesias was joined by Cuba's Descemer Bueno and Gente De Zona on three wins at the 15th Latin GRAMMY Awards on Nov. 20.

The Recording Academy actively represents the music community on such issues as intellectual property rights, music piracy, archiving and preservation, and censorship concerns. In pursuing its commitment to addressing these and other issues, The Recording Academy undertakes a variety of national initiatives. To learn more, visit GRAMMY.org/Advocacy. To get more involved, visit GRAMMY.com/Action.