Motion Picture Association Statement on Confirmation of Kathi Vidal as Director of USPTO
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate yesterday confirmed Kathi Vidal as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The following is a statement from Motion Picture Association Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin:
“The Motion Picture Association congratulates Kathi Vidal on her confirmation to serve as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Her confirmation is a reflection of the bipartisan support for this important agency and her readiness to lead it.
“The core copyright industries – including the film, television, and streaming industry – employ more than 5.7 million Americans who earn on average more than $107,000 annually. In 2019, our industries in total added $2.5 trillion to the U.S. GDP and accounted for 12% of the economy. We brought back $219 billion in foreign sales – more than the American agricultural, pharmaceutical, aerospace, and electronics industries, among others.
“America’s copyright system fuels the world’s most successful creative community, and we look forward to working with Ms. Vidal as Under Secretary.”
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About The Motion Picture Association:
The Motion Picture Association, Inc. (MPA) serves as the global voice and advocate of the motion picture, home video, and television industries. It works in every corner of the globe to advance the creative industry, protect its members’ content across all screens, defend the creative and artistic freedoms of storytellers, and support innovative distribution models that bring an expansion of viewing choices to audiences around the world.
Its member studios are: Netflix Studios, LLC; Paramount Pictures Corporation; Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.; Universal City Studios LLC; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Charles Rivkin is Chairman and CEO.
Media Contact:
Tom Zigo, Motion Picture Association
Tom_Zigo@motionpictures.org
202.378.9110