NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2000 — The Association of American Publishers and Microsoft Corp. today announced plans to work in close collaboration on a broad educational and enforcement initiative to fight e-book piracy.
Microsoft, which is a member of the AAP, is contributing critical technology resources, including new technology to identify illegal content on the Internet, and will provide a significant financial endowment. The announcement coincided with today’s launch of Microsoft® Reader for the Windows® operating system.
The initiative will include an educational Web site that can be found initially at http://microsoft.com/piracy/epub/ but that will eventually become part of the AAP Web site ( http://www.publishers.org/ ).
AAP will coordinate the programs announced today and within a year will establish a new committee to oversee education and enforcement efforts. At the outset, the advisory board of the new group will be Pat Schroeder, president and CEO of AAP, and Dick Brass, vice president of Technology Development at Microsoft. Other contributors will be invited to participate as well.
The joint effort will focus on three areas: education, encryption and enforcement. AAP will undertake a broad educational effort to raise public awareness of the value of protecting
e-books and other copyrighted electronic material. With the support of Microsoft, AAP will implement programs and services to educate the public, identify copyright violations, notify the appropriate intellectual property owners of violations, and form appropriate partnerships with law-enforcement agencies.
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AAP is delighted to join with Microsoft in this effort that will benefit all the players in the exciting e-book market, including publishers, authors, retailers and consumers,”
Schroeder said.
“Intellectual property is the fastest-growing segment of our economy and our most precious commodity in the global marketplace. What we’re really talking about protecting are American jobs and American creativity.”
“With our 25 years of experience in protecting digitized products, we at Microsoft know that piracy is a perpetual challenge that will always require a multifaceted strategy,”
Brass said.
“Piracy is not a question of ‘if’ but rather ‘when.’ No technology is immune to it. The key is having a comprehensive plan in place to counter it at every level and minimize the threat.”
About AAP
The Association of American Publishers is the national trade association of the U.S. book publishing industry. AAP’s approximately 250 members include most of the major commercial book publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and nonprofit publishers, university presses, and scholarly societies. AAP members publish hardcover and paperback books in every field and a range of educational materials for the elementary, secondary, post-secondary and professional markets. Members of the association also produce computer software and electronic products and services, such as online databases and CD-ROMs. The protection of intellectual property rights in all media is among AAP’s highest priorities.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software – any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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