RIAA, MPAA Converging on Political Conventions

By David Kravets

When the Recording Industry Association of America and the Motion Picture Association of America aren't suing individuals and websites for copyright infringement, they're lobbying.

The two groups are making the rounds in Denver at the Democratic National Convention, where they're likely pushing proposed legislation that would create a cabinet-level copyright czar. Officials from the RIAA and MPAA plan on hitting the Republican convention next week in Minnesota, where they would likely be pushing proposed legislation that would create a copyright czar.

In the age of political correctness, the groups prefer not to use the derogatory term -- "lobbying."

Cara Duckworth, a spokeswoman for the RIAA, said RIAA president Cary Sherman and others from the recording industry are in Denver "to be relevant to the political process. We'll be in Minnesota next week."

Angela Martinez, a spokeswoman for the MPAA, was equally cryptic. Dan Glickman, the association's chairman and former congressman, is there "reconnecting with old friends," she said.

"Obviously," Martinez added, "he's there as a representative of the motion picture industry."

The RIAA, MPAA and others are hosting a fundraiser party at the convention on Wednesday for the One Campaign to fight world poverty.

Here's a news tip: As part of the love fest where change is being promised, the Democrats will nominate Illinois Sen. Barack Obama as the party's presidential candidate. You read it here first.

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