“Government Mandates are not the Solution,” says Schatz 

(Washington, D.C.) – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) announced its membership in the newly formed Alliance for Digital Progress (ADP), launched this morning.  The coalition is made up of consumer groups, think tanks, taxpayer organizations, and businesses that support protecting all forms of digital content and related intellectual property, while opposing any government mandates designed to force the use of particular copy-protection technologies.  The group points to the private sector as the solution for developing effective means of guarding digital media.

“CAGW is proud to be joining ADP and looks forward to working to protect consumers from possible government mandates related to digital media,” CAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “The role of government is to enforce copyright and other existing laws, not to interfere in the marketplace.  The private sector has made great strides in developing copy-protection technology and the market will determine which prove to be the most effective, and consumer friendly.  Government mandates would only hinder this progress.

“The government has proved time and again that it lags behind the private sector in terms of technology, both in development and use.  The cost of government mandates in this area would be enormous to consumers.  Taxpayers will be left holding the bag if government decides to contract for the development and continual upgrade of a copy protection device.  Millions of consumers will be forced to pay more for products due to the increased costs companies incur when forced to comply with such mandates.

“Government mandates only stifle innovation within the technology industry.  The private sector holds the key to developing suitable copy-protection for digital media,” Schatz concluded.  “We encourage content providers, consumer electronic companies, and the IT community to work together to fight piracy and spur economic growth in the digital age.”

More information on ADP can be found at www.alliancefordigitalprogress.org. 

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.  Please visit www.cagw.org for more information.