Monthly Archives: March 2015

BECKERMAN: “Senator Schumer, Majority Leader McCarthy, and Representative Lofgren all understand and champion the critical role the Internet industry plays in our economy.”

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Internet Association announced that Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) are the 2015 recipients of the Congressional Internet Freedom Award, the Internet Association’s highest recognition for excellence in public service. The Internet Association is also awarding Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) a Lifetime Achievement Award for her work supporting the growth of the Internet industry through effective public policy.

“Senator Schumer, Majority Leader McCarthy, and Representative Lofgren all understand and champion the critical role the Internet industry plays in our economy,” said Michael Beckerman, Internet Association President and CEO. “These Congressional leaders have dedicated significant time and effort to advancing policies that foster innovation and growth across the Internet. On behalf of leading Internet-based companies and users across the country, the Internet Association is proud to present each with these awards, in recognition of their continued support of our industry.”

The recipients will be honored for their efforts as champions of Internet issues at the Internet Association’s second annual Charity Gala. The gala, set to take place on April 14 in Washington, DC, will benefit After-School All-Stars, which serves nearly 90,000 low-income, at-risk youth in 13 major cities across the country. All proceeds from the event will raise money for STEM education initiatives for low-income and at-risk youth participating in After-School All-Stars programs, including after-school programs, a STEM summer camp, and coding, finance, robotics, and entrepreneurship programs.

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Washington, D.C. – Internet Association President and CEO Michael Beckerman issues the following statement on the Data Security and Breach Notification Act:

“It is important that Congress create a strong national standard to outline clear rules of the road for our members and their users.  The Internet Association looks forward to working with Vice Chairman Blackburn and Congressman Welch on this important issue. The patchwork of more than 40 individual state laws fails to benefit consumers or Internet companies, as they fight to keep user data safe.”

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Don’t let the patent trolls get their pot of gold. While watching nyan cat fly over the capitol is hilarious, patent reform is no laughing matter. Trolls target a wide range of  businesses. It’s not just tech companies and software developers anymore – coffee shops, hotels and other main street businesses are now in the trolls’ crosshairs. It’s time for Congress to take action and stand up against patent trolls once and for all.

Beckerman: “Coinbase is a leader in the field of digital currency, and their track-record of expansion and innovation makes them an exciting and welcome addition to the Internet Association.”

Washington, D.C. — The Internet Association is proud to announce that Coinbase has joined the growing organization of Internet companies. Coinbase, founded in 2012 and based in San Francisco, is one of the world’s most popular digital currency platforms, with 2.5 million consumer wallets, 6,000 developer applications, and 38,000 merchant users worldwide.

“Bitcoin is currency built for the Internet,” said John Collins, Head of Government Affairs at Coinbase. “As the trusted brand in the bitcoin ecosystem, we are thrilled to join the Internet Association and serve as a voice for the growing community of consumers, merchants and developers building on the bitcoin protocol. Our vision for bitcoin as a free and open, global payments system aligns with IA’s own commitment to online freedom and innovation, and we look forward to furthering that mission as a member.”

From traditional financial institutions to the 2.5 billion global unbanked, bitcoin has the potential to touch every aspect of the financial system, and Coinbase has encouraged this mainstream adoption by making it easy and secure for people to buy, use, and accept digital currency.

Coinbase recently raised $75 million in Series C financing, the largest funding round for a bitcoin company to date. Participants in the round included the likes of BBVA, the New York Stock Exchange and a subsidiary of USAA, marking the first time that financial institutions have made a major investment in a Bitcoin company. Having expanded internationally last year, Coinbase now serves users in 24 countries worldwide, and just launched Coinbase Exchange, a fully licensed U.S. bitcoin exchange.

“Coinbase is a leader in the field of digital currency, and their track-record of expansion and innovation makes them an exciting and welcome addition to the Internet Association,” said Michael Beckerman, Internet Association President and CEO. “We look forward to working with Coinbase and harnessing their insights about the role of digital currency and online payment systems in our Internet economy.”

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Highlights Role Of Internet As Platform For Innovation And Growth

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Internet Association submitted a letter to United States Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition, and Consumer Rights, on the importance of the Internet as a music distribution platform and driver of economic growth.

In the letter, the Internet Association highlights the evolution of Internet radio and the subsequent spur of streaming services such as those offered by Internet Association members Amazon, Google, Pandora, and Yahoo. Outside of the music space, Internet companies want to ensure that digital content delivery via the Internet is afforded fair and equal treatment by all government agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“It is no secret that the Internet has, since its inception, served to lower search and transaction costs for consumers across many markets, saving consumers time and money on a daily basis. We support efforts to bring similar efficiencies to the music licensing process. The Internet Association therefore calls for a public, searchable database containing a complete and comprehensive list of works in both the PROs’ and record labels’ repertoires,” said Abigail Slater, Internet Association Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Policy.

Additionally, the Internet Association outlined its support for limitations in the DOJ consent decrees controlling how performance rights organizations – ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) – license music publishing rights.

The full report can be viewed here.

Washington, D.C. – Internet Association President and CEO Michael Beckerman issues the following statement on the confirmation of Michelle Lee as the Under Secretary for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office and Daniel Marti as the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator:

“The Internet Association applauds the confirmation of Michelle Lee as the Under Secretary for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office and Daniel Marti as the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator. Ms. Lee has a strong appreciation for the importance of a properly functioning patent system and its value to the U.S. economy. With his extensive national and international litigation experience in private practice, Mr. Marti is well qualified to coordinate intellectual property enforcement for the U.S. Government.

“On behalf of our members, we look forward to continuing to work with Ms. Lee and the USPTO on developing solutions necessary to address the challenges currently facing our patent system.  We also anticipate a continued and productive dialogue with the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator on how best to preserve the balance between limitations and exceptions and the enforcement of exclusive rights in copyright law.”

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Capitol Briefing Highlights

On January 29, 2015, the Internet Association and three Internet-enabled small businesses hosted Congressional staffers for a briefing on digital trade. Each small business at the briefing conveyed the message that Internet issues are trade issues, and described some of their challenges doing business abroad.

The briefing took place on the same day the Internet Association released a policy paper calling for the government to support policies important to Internet-enabled trade. With over three billion users, the Internet is integrated into every aspect of global commerce and communications, accounting for 21 percent of worldwide GDP growth in advanced economies. Internet platforms level the playing field for small and medium sized businesses, are proven drivers of economic growth, and allow users to transcend borders and cultures to reach new customers.