国际知识产权联盟简介编辑本段回目录
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| 主席Eric Smith |
每年年初，美国贸易代表办公室发布通知，就"特殊301"调查征求公众意见，该联盟都会提交大量资料，并提出很多建议。例如，2006年，它提供了46个国家保护版权不力的情况，同时建议将这些国家分类列入"重点国家"，"重点观察国家"和"观察国家"名单。
如此引人注目的组织，其秘书处却只有6个人：主席埃瑞克·史密斯（Eric Smith）和几个工作人员。Eric是联盟的创始人之一，同时是Smith & Metalitz律师事务所的管理合伙人（managing partner）。
事实上，这些人员也同时在该律师事务所工作。因此，联盟与律师事务所几乎是一套人马两块牌子。当然，该联盟后面有强大的支持力量。
美国是个社团政治高度发达的国家，利益集团在其宪政体制中居于显著地位，美国对外经贸政策的制定深受利益集团的影响。国际知识产权联盟作为美国知识产权利益集团的代言人，通过向美国政府提交年度调查报告和参加国会听证会等方式，对美国贸易法"特别301条款"的实施以及美国对华知识产权政策的制定发挥了重要作用。对此，中国应在政策实践上有所应对。
将知识产权问题政治化的重要推手编辑本段回目录
刚刚公布的2009年报告中列出38个需要执行更严格知识产权保护政策的国家，其中中国属于重点观察对象。 重点观察对象包括：阿根廷、文莱、加拿大、智利、埃及、印度、印度尼西亚、墨西哥、巴基斯坦、中国、菲律宾、俄罗斯、泰国。
国际知识产权联盟的成员包括BSA(美国商业软件联盟)、ESA(娱乐软件联盟)，MPAA(美国电影协会)和RIAA(美国唱片工业协会），可能有的读者会奇怪，怎么都是美国版权组织，国际知识产权联盟号称国际，其实是成立于1984年的民间组织，代表美国以版权为基础的产业，其宗旨是谋求在全球范围内加强对其版权产业的保护。也被人们称为“美国国际知识产权联盟”。
事实上，所谓的“国际知识产权联盟”主要是代表美国大公司利益，在全球范围之内通过不断强化知识产权保护来获得更大的收益。其最大的功能，也是其最大的争议就是，国际知识产权联盟常常扮演高于国家主权之上的角色，将原本通过法律和市场合理解决的知识产权问题政治化，变成国际政治问题，通过政治舆论和政治施压，达到自己的商业目的。
旗下七大协会编辑本段回目录
国际知识产权联盟由7个协会组成，而这些协会的会员有1，900家，其中很多是赫赫有名的大公司。
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| 田力普局长会见联盟主席史密斯 |
联盟的7个协会是:
美国出版商协会（Association of American Publishers， AAP），是图书杂志出版产业的协会。协会的目的，是提高出版在全世界的地位，协助其会员在国内外保护版权，捍卫智慧自由和书面表达自由。
商业软件联盟（Business Software Alliance， BSA），其宗旨是促进安全，合法的数据世界，代表商业软件产业及其硬件伙伴的声音。它提出很多教育和政策建议，推动版权保护，网络安全，贸易和电子商务。近年来，它委托美国国际数据公司（International Data Corporation， IDC）对全球软件盗版情况作出年度报告（Piracy Study），公布主要国家和地区的盗版率和销售损失。这些数据被广泛引用，产生了很大影响。
娱乐软件协会（Entertainment Software Association， ESA）代表生产游戏软件，手动设备，个人电脑和有关互联网的公司。协会为互动式娱乐软件出版商提供服务，包括开展全球反盗版项目，举办电子娱乐展览会，商业及消费调查，政府关系，知识产权保护等。
独立电影电视联盟（Independent Film & Television Alliance， IFTA）的成员有150个，来自15个国家，包括独立的制作和销售公司，销售代理公司，电视公司，制片厂附属公司，以及从事电影融资的金融机构。40%的会员和30%的协会董事会成员来自美国以外的国家。
美国电影协会（Motion Picture Association of America， MPAA）会员只有7家，但都是世界上最大的影视公司，包括Buena Vista Picture Distribution （the Walt Disney Company），Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.，Paramount Pictures Corporation，Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.，Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation，Universal City Studios LLLP，Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.。协会有一个反盗版的项目，在全世界保护美国电影免受侵权。此外，协会还致力于消除不公平贸易障碍，增加国际市场的竞争。
全国音乐出版商协会（National Music Publishers' Association， NMPA）代表600家音乐出版社，职责是保护并促进音乐出版商及作曲家利益，保护音乐版权。
美国录音产业协会（Recording Industry Association of America， RIAA），其数百家公司创作，制造，分销的录音制品在美国占90%。协会有法律和调查人员，与其他国家的录音产业团体一道打击各种形式音乐盗版。其主要任务之一，是确保版权立法适应快速发展技术环境，并且为音乐投资，生产和分销创造条件。
无知者无畏还是先入之见的偏见？编辑本段回目录
2003年7月21日参加中美网络法圆桌会议的中国专家受邀请到美国国际知识产权联盟做客。在交流中，该联盟主席Eric H. Smith先生根据其机构在中国的调查，在版权领域，中国市场上90%是盗版，使该联盟的公司遭受了巨大损失。他指责中国没有对版权的刑事司法保护，没有一起版权犯罪被判刑的案件。中国将版权犯罪当作非法经营处理。他说该组织的成员没有资源在中国打民事官司，中国应当按照TRIPs协议关于对知识产权进行刑事保护的规定执行，国际在看着中国是否遵守WTO的规则。今后该组织要推动中国对知识产权的刑事司法保护。
蒋志培博士和其他中国专家指出，中国严格遵守承诺的WTO各项规则。中国法院对知识产权的保护是严肃认真的，在各个领域执法活动都在正常进行。包括对知识产权的刑事司法保护。中国法院每年要受理一审刑事知识产权案件200余件，涉及版权的也有40-50件，也就是说每年有200余人为知识产权犯罪进班房。有很多案例足可以证明。这怎么能说中国没有对知识产权的刑事司法保护？
专家们指出主席先生依据的数据来源不清、数据不可靠，对中国问题的评估有错误。中国需要提高自己的工作效率和水平，包括对知识产权的刑事司法保护，中国最高法院已经对此专门进行了调查研究提出方案。但是一些公司企业不是依据中国法律对侵权活动采取启动司法程序的工作，而是散布错误数据施加政治上的压力。
中国专家建议美国国际知识产权联盟的通过正当渠道获取准确信息，也能读懂中文信息；那些在中国开拓市场的企业尽可利用中国对知识产权保护的执法机制保护自己的正当权益。
美国国际知识产权联盟主席冀携手中国打击盗版编辑本段回目录
美国国际知识产权联盟主席埃里克·史密斯今晚在此间接受湖南省长周强会见时说，目前美国与中国一样，正饱受盗版，侵权等问题的困扰，希望双方能携手解决这些问题，保护知识产权。
为促进版权的国际保护，1984年，埃里克·史密斯在美国创立国际知识产权联盟。该组织下辖七大协会，目前已拥有1900余家会员，在完善知识产权法律保护，开放国际市场及遏制盗版等方面作了许多努力。
周强向客人介绍了湖南在知识产权保护方面的情况。他说，由袁隆平院士发明的杂交稻技术，国防科技大学在湖南研制成功的中国首台千万亿次超级计算机等，让湖南在中国的知识产权界产生广泛影响。湖南十分注重通过政府规章和地方立法，通过加大对侵权盗版行为的打击力度，加强对公众的教育宣传等，对知识产权实行有效保护。
周强表示，湖南高度重视知识产权领域的国际合作，尤其鼓励与国外民间组织、大学，科研机构在知识产权研究、培训等方面开展合作。湖南的发展依靠知识产权的保护和广泛利用，希望通过加强与国际知识产权联盟的合作，推动湖南创意产业及国际合作走向世界前列。
近年来，湖南出版投资控股集团不断寻求与国际知名行业组织的交流合作，在制作权引进、出口方面做了大量富有成效的工作，每年引进国外著作约150件，出口著作120件，对中国公众了解全球化趋势，让中国文化走向世界产生了积极影响。史密斯对此表示高度赞赏，并表达出希望能与湖南合作的强烈愿望。
国际知识产权联盟20多年来全球战绩一览表编辑本段回目录
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| 战果辉煌 |
20 YEARS AGO (1984-1985)
• The Addition of IPR Protection to U.S. Trade Law: In 1984, the U.S. copyright industries pressed the Congress to make ineffective IPR protection an “unfair trade practice” under Section 301 of the U.S. trade law. Congress made this and other similar changes (to the GSP Program, for example) which marked the first time IPR protection was made part of the U.S. trade agenda.
• Formation of the IIPA: At the same time as U.S. trade legislation was being amended, eight copyright industry associations representing over 1,500 U.S. companies united in a coalition called the “International Intellectual Property Alliance” for the purpose of improving copyright laws and fighting massive piracy of U.S. copyrighted products. IIPA and its members together began a global campaign to improve copyright protection and enforcement.
• IIPA Trade Policy Report: In 1985, IIPA wrote its first report recommending to the U.S. government what actions it should take in this area. Entitled “U.S. Government Trade Policy: Views of the Copyright Industries” (1985), IIPA’s recommendations have either been fulfilled or still remain U.S. government strategy.
• In 1985, IIPA prepared the first-ever comprehensive review of piracy losses and the status of current laws in 10 selected countries in Asia, in the Middle East, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. This first effort revealed staggering piracy levels in many of these countries and led to a new effort to secure improved protection and enforcement for U.S. copyrighted products.
• First IPR 301 Action: The U.S. Government, at IIPA’s urging, self-initiated the first IPR-based Section 301 case against Korea, which at that time provided no legal protection for U.S. copyrighted works. This case was successfully settled in 1986 with Korea passing a copyright law protecting U.S. works for the first time.
15 YEARS AGO (1988-1989)
• From 1984 through 1988, pressed by IIPA and its members through bilateral engagement by the U.S. government, many countries, particularly in Asia, revised their copyright laws and/or protected U.S. works for the first time.
• U.S. Adherence to the Berne Convention: With the strong support of and lobbying by IIPA and its members, the U.S. passed the Berne Convention Implementation Act in 1988, and in 1989 adhered to the Berne Convention (1971 Paris text). This gave added credibility to U.S. government and industry efforts to secure further global copyright reforms.
• Special 301 Mechanism Adopted by Congress and IIPA Releases its First Special 301 Submission to USTR: At the instance of IIPA and the copyright industries, in 1988, Congress passed amendments
Page 2 IIPA Milestones (1984-2004) October 2004
to Section 301 making the status of global IP protection an annual exercise in what is now called “Special 301.” USTR then released its first request for public comments in the annual “Special 301” review. IIPA filed its first set of Special 301 comments in February 1989 (in a format similar to IIPA’s first submission in 1985). In April 1989, USTR Carla Hills followed by announcing which countries failed to meet the criteria of the statute, including creating the “Priority Watch List” and “Watch List” categories. USTR’s and the rest of the government’s IPR focus then greatly expanded in following years, urged on by IIPA and its members as well as by other IPR-based industries. For example, in April 1999, Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky announced USTR’s survey on IPR practices in over 70 countries, a huge increase from 1989.
14 YEARS AGO (1990)
• First IIPA “Regular” 301 Petition Filed on IPR Grounds: In November 1990, IIPA, MPAA and RIAA filed the first IPR “regular” Section 301 petition (not under Special 301) against Thailand. Trade retaliation was averted when the Thai Government outlined specific pledges of actions. Similarly, other countries have taken concrete steps to improve their IPR regimes after their IPR practices have been investigated after being designated as “Priority Foreign Countries” under Special 301.
• IIPA releases its first ever economic report on the U.S. copyright industries: This study, Copyright Industries in the U.S. Economy, prepared by Economists Incorporated for the IIPA, confirmed that these industries contribute powerfully to the U.S. economy, employment and international trade (foreign sales/exports). In 1989, the ‘core’ copyright industries contributed $173.7 billion to the U.S. economy (or 3.3% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product), employed over 2.6 million workers, and had foreign sales/exports of at least $22.3 billion (larger than the U.S. aircraft and spacecraft industries’ exports). This seminal 1990 report established methodologies used in subsequent IIPA reports as well as efforts undertaken by other countries. Subsequent reports conducted by the IIPA confirmed the continued spectacular growth of the copyright industries to the U.S. economy.
• NAFTA Negotiations Begin with an IPR Chapter: In 1990, formal discussions among the U.S., Mexico and Canada to create a North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) started. IIPA was instrumental in developing the text of the intellectual property rights chapter and was a strong supporter of NAFTA’s 1993 passage in Congress.
10 YEARS AGO (1994)
• TRIPS Agreement Reached in the New WTO: At the conclusion of the Uruguay Round, a new chapter on intellectual property rights -- the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) -- was included for the first time ever in a global trade instrument. The establishment of new, higher standards of protection, and for the first time, standards of enforcement, gave another jump start to countries’ improving their levels of protection and enforcement of IPR. At the end of the Uruguay Round in 1994, there were 128 members of the GATT.
8 YEARS AGO (1996)
• WIPO “Internet” Treaties Completed: With the continuing forceful urging of the U.S. Government, supported by IIPA and its members over a period of many years, a Diplomatic Conference called by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) culminated at the end of 1996 with the signing of two new international copyright treaties, this time clarifying and extending the Berne Convention to the digital and Internet environment and significantly enhancing protection for sound recordings. IIPA and many of its members served on the U.S. delegation to this Convention.
• China “Special 301” Action Settled: Following the designation of China as a “Priority Foreign country” under Special 301, China and the U.S. agreed on an enforcement “action plan” and, seeking to avoid up to $2 billion in trade retaliation by the U.S., China closed 15 pirate CD factories and virtually shut down massive worldwide exports of pirate optical media product. These actions followed the 1995 U.S.-China IPR Agreement which outlined comprehensive obligations on IPR protection which went far to bring China into the modern age in the field of copyright.
Page 3 IIPA Milestones (1984-2004) October 2004
6 YEARS AGO (1998)
• Congress Passes the Digital Millennium Copyright Act: In October 1998, the U.S. passed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) which amended U.S. law to meet the obligations of the two “Internet” treaties -- the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) which were completed in 1996. These treaties raised the minimum standards of copyright protection, particularly with respect to the networked-based delivery of copyrighted materials. Adoption of this legislation permitted the U.S. to ratify and accede to these treaties. Since this time, IIPA has been working diligently to ensure global accession to, and proper implementation of, these treaties which are critical to fostering the growth of electronic commerce.
• WTO Declaration on E-Commerce: At the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference in May 1998, trade ministers of all the WTO member nations adopted a “Declaration on Global Electronic Commerce” whereby nations agreed to a moratorium on imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions.
5 YEARS AGO (1999)
• U.S. Ratifies and Joins the WIPO “Internet” Treaties: The United States deposited its instruments of accession to both the WCT and the WPPT in September 1999. IIPA then began its major effort to persuade countries to ratify and accede to the two Treaties in order to put them into force.
4 YEARS AGO (2000)
• TRIPS Transition Period Ends for Developing Countries: All developing countries and countries in transition (though not U.N. designated least developing countries) became obligated to meet their substantive and enforcement provisions of the WTO TRIPS Agreement on January 1, 2000.
TWO YEARS AGO (2002)
• WIPO Treaties Enter Into Force: Ratification and deposit in Geneva by 30 countries was needed before the treaties would enter into force. The WCT entered into force on March 6, 2002 and the WPPT on May 20, 2002. In an effort to raise awareness of these critical treaties, IIPA sponsored a major celebration of this event on Capitol Hill honoring key U.S. Congressman and Senators responsible for the DMCA and the Ambassadors from the countries that helped bring the treaties into force.
• Trade Promotion Authority: IIPA and its members celebrated the passage of the Trade Act of 2002, which included Trade Promotion Authority which permits the President, in consultation with Congress, to negotiate bilateral, regional and multilateral trade agreements. This was intended to give a jump start to the new Doha Round and to the various bilateral and plurilateral Free Trade Agreements now in process, in all of which the U.S. government, at IIPA’s urging, has sought greatly improved levels of copyright protection and enforcement.
• China and Taiwan Become WTO Members: These two key U.S. trading partners became WTO members in December 11, 2001 and on January 1, 2002, respectively. IIPA remains engaged in ongoing efforts to bring these two countries’ laws and enforcement regimes up to TRIPS’ levels of protection as required by the WTO.
ONE YEAR AGO (2003)
• Singapore and Chile Free Trade Agreements (FTA) Signed: On May 6, 2003, the President signed the Singapore FTA. One month later, on June 6, 2003, the President signed the Chile FTA. These milestone agreements formed the baseline for new FTAs with many other countries, which will result in improved protection for U.S. copyrighted materials.
• GSP Continues as an Effective Trade Tool for Improving Copyright Protection in Beneficiary Countries: In 2003, IIPA participated in six GSP hearings involving the review of the copyright protection and enforcement practices in Brazil, Russia, Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan, Lebanon,
and Uzbekistan – all of which were based on petitions submitted by IIPA in prior years. GSP petitions filed by IIPA over the last 15 years have been effective in securing improved copyright protection.
THIS YEAR (2004)
• Special 301 Review: In February 2004, IIPA filed its sixteenth (16th) Special 301 submission with USTR. This submission again comprehensively detailed piracy rates and estimated losses due to piracy, analyzed legal and enforcement deficiencies, and recommended corrective actions in dozens of countries. Estimated 2003 trade losses due to copyright piracy in the 52 countries placed on USTR's 2004 Special 301 lists amounted to at least $10 billion. Estimated annual global losses suffered by the copyright industries are conservatively placed at $25-30 billion (not including internet piracy).
• Trade Investigations under Special 301 and Section 301: Since 1984, IIPA has participated in Section 301 and Special 301 investigations into the intellectual property practices of Korea, Taiwan, India, Thailand, Brazil, the People’s Republic of China, Paraguay, Honduras, and Ukraine. Over the years, IIPA and its members have been engaged with progress made (and not made) in dozens of countries which have been placed on the Special 301 “Priority Watch List” and “Watch List.”
• GSP Leverage Continues: GSP investigations for inadequate and ineffective copyright laws and enforcement continue against Brazil, Russia, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. In June 2004, USTR accepted IIPA’s petition against Pakistan.
• IPR in U.S. Free Trade Agreements: Between 2000-2004, the U.S. government concluded FTA negotiations with Jordan, Singapore, Chile, Australia, Morocco, five Central American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua) plus the Dominican Republic (DR-CAFTA) and Bahrain. FTA negotiations are underway with the Andean nations (Colombia, Peru and Ecuador), Panama, and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU–Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland).
• Berne Convention Membership Grows: Between 1984 and 2004, membership in the Berne Convention, the premier international copyright convention, has more than doubled (74 countries at the end of 1984 versus 157 as of September 2004), in part as a result of IIPA and its members’ global reform efforts.
• WTO Members Increase: The number of member nations that have joined the international trade community, through the new WTO, has significantly increased in the last decade. At the end of the Uruguay Round in 1994, there were 128 members of the GATT. As of October 2004, there are 147 members of the WTO, with over 30 countries either engaged in the WTO accession process or serving as observers. IPR issues remain high on the U.S. accession negotiations agenda for many of these countries (including, for example, Russia).
• WTO TRIPS Agreement Marks its Tenth Anniversary: Since the 1994 conclusion of the WTO negotiations, at least 100 countries have adopted copyright legislative reforms as a result of both their multilateral obligations as well as U.S. bilateral engagement. While most WTO members are now compliant with their substantive TRIPS copyright obligations, the continuing challenge for the WTO, the U.S. government and the U.S. copyright industries is to bring these countries fully into compliance with their obligation to have TRIPS-compliant enforcement systems in place “in practice.” For the copyright industries, this means, in particular, that countries criminal laws are being used aggressively to fight against the global criminal syndicates that are often at the center of the “pirate trade.”
• Implementation of the WIPO “Internet” Treaties Continues: IIPA and its members remain actively engaged in a major effort to ensure full and prompt implementation of these treaties in countries worldwide. As of October 2004, 48 nations had ratified the WCT and 44 the WPPT. Recognizing
that effective copyright protection on the internet could provide an important new tool for promoting the creation and distribution of creative materials, most of the early adherents to the treaties thus far have been developing countries. Implementation continues even in countries that have not ratified the treaties yet; the treaties have now become another cornerstone of international copyright law.
• IIPA’s Copyright Industries in the U.S. Economy: The 2004 Report: Working with Economists Incorporated, IIPA released its tenth economic report since 1990 on the contribution of the U.S. copyright-based industries to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment and foreign sales/exports. This study confirms that the U.S. copyright industries remain a driving force in the U.S. economy. The U.S. ‘core’ copyright industries accounted for 6% of U.S. GDP in 2002, or $626.6 billion, and were responsible for employing 4% of U.S. workers (5.48 million people) that year. These numbers double when the contribution of the ‘total’ copyright industries are calculated (to 12% of GDP or $1.25 trillion, and 8.4% of employment). The copyright industries also contributed foreign sales and exports of $89.26 billion in 2002, again leading all major industry sectors. This study is the first report in the world to use WIPO’s 2003 recommendations for conducting national economic studies on copyright industries.
• 20 years of IIPA: IIPA celebrates its 20th Anniversary in the fight for global copyright and enforcement reform that is the sine qua non for copyright industries to continue to lead the world in revenue and job growth. This collective effort with governments on a global basis has resulted in billions of dollars of increased revenue to creators and their support organizations, millions of new jobs, and has contributed significantly to cultural diversity throughout the developing and developed world.
专访美国国际知识产权联盟主席：谷歌不能这样干编辑本段回目录
美国国际知识产权联盟主席埃瑞克·史密斯接受红网与潇湘晨报联合专访。
埃瑞克·史密斯指责谷歌数字图书馆的作法与知识产权保护相悖。
版权人希望作品能通过互联网迅速传播出去，并从中获利，互联网则希望有好的产品可供传播，但世界上目前还没有很好的合作模式，大家都不知道怎么办是最好的。不过呢，肯定不能像谷歌那样：“拿来、扫描、发上网，然后说‘就这么着吧，告我啊’，这个肯定不是解决问题之道。”
——美国国际知识产权联盟主席（IIPA）埃瑞克·史密斯
埃瑞克·史密斯在中国并不为人所熟知，不过这只是个时间问题。
他和IIPA，以及IIPA所代表的1900家大公司，已经爱恨交织地与中国打了多年交道。2000年，IIPA就发表公开信，支持美国国会通过与中国的永久性正常贸易国家关系议案。但它也多次提交报告，将中国列入版权侵权重点观察国家名单。
19日晚，沿长江南下的埃瑞克·史密斯抵达湖南，与湖南省委副书记、省长周强连夜座谈，并在随后接受红网与潇湘晨报的联合专访。关于中国知识产权保护状况的改善，关于IIPA如何代表美国企业进行国际维权，甚至关于在中国引起轩然大波的谷歌数字图书馆案，埃瑞克·史密斯无不有问必答。
他批评百度提供非法音乐的免费下载，同时也直斥谷歌数字图书馆：“拿来、扫描、发上网，然后说，‘就这么着吧，告我啊’，这个肯定不是解决问题之道。”
1992年，埃瑞克·史密斯第一次到中国，当时的世贸谈判还在准备阶段。2006年，他到中国时，与当时的中国国务院副总理吴仪会见。而最近一次埃瑞克·史密斯来中国，会见了中国新闻出版总署署长和国家版权局的领导。
近二十年时间，中国无疑发生了巨大变化，而埃瑞克·史密斯始终以美国国际知识产权联盟主席加创始人之一的身份出现。用当下的语言讲，他就是一个坚定的“反山寨主义者”。只不过，IIPA更多是代表了它的7个组成协会，1900家会员企业的利益，它以NGO的形式出现，跟各国政府交涉，推动各个国家逐步建立起一套版权保护的机制体系，为其会员企业的产品出口创造良好氛围。
对于中国，IIPA的情绪显然很复杂，一方面，这是个“巨大的市场”。以互联网为例，截至今年7月的统计，中国网民规模达到3.38亿，比全美国人口还多。另一方面，哪怕冀望1亿人付费从网上下载音乐，目前都不大现实。
埃瑞克·史密斯曾在多个场合批评百度，指它提供非法音乐免费下载，在年初向美国贸易代表署提交的48国版权贸易情况报告中，IIPA将中国、加拿大、俄罗斯等13个国家列入重点观察国家名单，并以百度和康健世讯两家公司为例，批评中国互联网和移动网络的版权侵权非常严重。
但埃瑞克·史密斯也承认，互联网出现给知识产权保护带来的问题，是全球性的。在美国，类似谷歌数字图书馆之类的网站行为，给IIPA会员企业版权人带来的伤害，比谷歌在中国出现的情况更为严重。
事实上，版权人与互联网的关系，类似于IIPA会员企业与中国的关系一样纠结：“没有我们的产品，（美国）互联网上就缺少内容，他们会干不下去，但是，没有他们的传播，我们的好东西又没人知道。”
什么样的合作模式是最好的，IIPA也在探索，而最新的尝试是，IIPA试图跟isp（互联网运营商）合作，打击非法共享、转载。首先是跟法国、南非等国家立法机构交涉，监控一些非法共享的服务器。如果有人在家里从这些非法来源上下载东西或者上传，被isp发现三次，isp就会切断下载者的网络连接。然后，IIPA再介入调查，经过取证，产生非法下载上传的罚单。
“后果挺严重的，一般人被罚以后就不会再干这些事了。”埃瑞克·史密斯说。
如果这样的尝试放到中国，很可能革命性的变化就会发生，因为网友们已经习惯的“免费午餐（包括音乐、电影、游戏、软件等）”时代，也许将随着罚单诞生而终结。
数字化产品版权保护还有一段路要走
红网：今年2月份，IIPA提交了一份报告，将中国等13个国家列入版权侵权重点观察国家名单，还特别以中文搜索引擎百度为例，指出中国互联网版权侵权非常严重。
不知您是否留意到最近有关谷歌数字图书馆侵权的新闻，它在未经作者同意的情况下，扫描了大量中文书籍。在美国是否允许这种情况出现？如果谷歌想要使用IIPA代表的出版社出版的图书，合法的途径是怎样的？
埃瑞克·史密斯：百度大量传播非法链接，在我们看是不道德的行为，侵害了版权人的利益。
谷歌中文图书馆的事情，我也听说了。在美国，我们也碰到很多这方面的问题。我可以说，在美国，因为类似谷歌图书馆之类的网站行为，版权人受害颇深，比中国目前遇到的情况更为严重。
大约四年前，IIPA的会员们，大量的美国作者、演员、版权人起诉了谷歌。目前，谷歌同意寻求庭外和解的办法，我们也很期待这一结果。
作为版权人，我们当然很希望我们的著作、产品通过各种方式发布到互联网上去，以便更快的传播。谷歌的传播力，使他们在这个方面很有优势。但是，不管他们怎么干，得合法。他们取得我们的合法授权，对我们都有益。
当然，也有很多问题要解决。以数字图书馆为例，现在有很多图书，甚至找不到作者。这种情况下，要为作者、版权人维权，是个挺难的事情。当下，有很多关于数字化产品版权保护的研究、讨论，尤其是在创意产业领域，但是，还没有一个固定的模式，问题也还很多，为了找到通用的解决办法，我们还有一段路要走。
比如，百度如果只是引用我们会员的作品，根据中国的法律，这是合法的，在美国也是如此。但是，如果想把整本书都发到网上去，还是要先得到版权人的许可。
百度的问题，当然也是全球都会遇到的问题。一方面，版权人希望自己的东西，能通过互联网迅速传播出去，并从中获利。另一方面呢，目前又没有很好的模式，大家都不知道怎么办是最好的。不过呢，肯定不能像谷歌那样，拿来、扫描、发上网，然后说“就这么着吧，告我啊”。这个肯定不是问题解决之道。
一般人被罚以后就不会再非法下载上传了
红网：实际上，互联网上的版权保护，无论对于哪个国家来讲，可能都是全新的课题，美国的互联网技术走在最前面，可能也最先遇到这些问题。美国青少年是否也普遍从互联网下载音乐、电影等，作者的权益如何保障？美国有没有解决得比较好的案例，可供借鉴的经验？数字出版在多久的将来，会形成真正完善的市场，您如何判断？
埃瑞克·史密斯：美国人也从网上下载大量的东西，不过，确实有很多办法保护版权人的权益。比如，只允许通过合法链接下载。简单的说，就是版权人通过与网站、传播人共享利益，一起打击非法传播和盗版。
目前我们在跟isp（互联网运营商）合作打击非法共享、转载。我们有一套机制，通过跟法国、南非还有许多国家的立法机构交涉，监控了一些非法共享的服务器。如果有人在家里从这些非法来源上下载东西或者上传，被isp发现三次的话，isp就会切断下载者的网络连接。然后，我们会介入调查，经过取证以后呢，就会产生非法下载上传的罚单，后果挺严重的。一般人被罚以后就不会再干这些事了。
统计数据表明，如果人们提供的非法共享减少的话，非法传播也会大量减少，慢慢地非法下载上传的人也会越来越少。我们希望事情朝这个方向发展。
我们正在努力探索共赢的模式，通过跟互联网传播巨头合作，给数字产品的传播一个合法健康的环境。我们希望在这个模式的框架下，跟百度、谷歌这样的公司合作共赢。因为没我们的内容，互联网上没内容，他们会干不下去；但是，没有他们的传播，我们的好东西又没人知道，我们希望找到合作共赢的模式。
报告把中国从最高等级降至重点观察
红网：2006年，您曾来中国与当时的副总理吴仪会见，与3年前相比，您如何看待今天中国的知识产权保护环境？是否有了整体的改善？还有哪些方面做得不够？
埃瑞克·史密斯：互联网介质的出现，使得知识产权保护的难度加大了。但这三年时间里，中国知识产权保护的环境改善颇多。
互联网给知识产权保护带来的问题，在美国如此，在中国也是这样，中国政府显然早就意识到了这一点，也确实做了很多事情，有了专门的立法保护知识产权。更重要的是，普通民众对版权的认识提高了，他们也有了要求政府保护版权利益的诉求。
1995年的时候，中国被放在报告的最高等级列里面，现在的数据表明，中国的市场环境大为改善，所以我们的报告把中国降到了重点观察行列里面。
不过，这个事情的难度确实挺大，因此，政府必须加大政策上、经济上对知识产权保护的支持，同时也要大力打击侵害知识产权犯罪行为，当然，还要加大人力上的投入，比如新闻出版总署就面临人手短缺的问题。
IIPA的会员都很重视中国市场，希望能把自己的作品卖到中国来。但是，他们又不放心，怕被盗版被山寨了。所以，要我说呢，中国政府已经认识到问题所在了，他们要做的，就是解决问题。我相信他们会做得更好。
参考文献编辑本段回目录
官方网站：http://www.iipa.com/
http://hn.rednet.cn/c/2009/11/22/1859825.htm
