Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association, emphasized the critical need for judicial site-blocking legislation in the U.S. during his State of the Industry address at CinemaCon 2024. Highlighting a robust year in box office returns, Rivkin underscored the persistent challenges and volatility within the industry, particularly the threat of digital piracy. He described piracy as not just a harmful act against content creators but as an organized crime issue that endangers consumer data and overall public safety. With piracy costing the U.S. economy billions annually and significantly impacting theatrical revenues, Rivkin reaffirmed the MPA’s commitment to combating this issue through various initiatives, including the potential implementation of site-blocking measures in the U.S.
Rivkin announced that the MPA would work closely with Members of Congress to introduce legislation that would allow for the blocking of websites distributing pirated content, emphasizing that such measures would target only illegal activities and would be carried out with due process. He noted that site-blocking is already an effective tool in nearly 60 countries, contributing to significant reductions in piracy and increases in traffic to legal content providers. Rivkin dismissed concerns about site-blocking harming free speech or the internet’s functionality, pointing to global experiences that show the effectiveness and safety of these measures. He stressed the urgency of updating U.S. laws to protect intellectual property, support American jobs, and enhance public safety, calling for bipartisan support to align American policies with global standards.
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