Intellectual Property Rights Fuel the Economy

On December 6, 2016, the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) issued a report highlighting the economic impact copyright industries have on the economy.  These industries include producers and distributors of books, journals, movies, music, software, and video games.

The study measures the economic contribution of various industries that are primarily responsible for creating and distributing copyright content.  It also breaks down the impact of core industries that are directly involved in creation and distribution of copyright; partial copyright industries that only support some aspect or portion of the products they create for copyright protection; non-dedicated support, such as transportation services, telecommunications, wholesale, and retail trade; and interdependent industries, such as those that produce, manufacture, and sell equipment which either uses, creates or facilitates the creation of copyrighted material. 

The authors of the study found that in 2015, core copyright industries contributed more than $1.2 trillion dollars in added value to the U.S. GDP, accounting for 6.88 percent of the U.S. economy.  The study also noted that total copyright industries added nearly $2.1 trillion in value to the U.S. GDP.  In 2015, core copyright industries employed 5,540,300,000 individuals with a share of 3.87 percent of the total U.S. employment.

As a pivotal driver in today’s economy, it is crucial that intellectual property rights be protected.