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RIAA works to protect intellectual property rights and creative freedom, fights for state, federal, and global policies that strengthen the modern music ecosystem, and demonstrates the important contributions of record labels to support artists. We engage with Congress, key executive departments and federal agencies, state legislatures, embassies, and other policymakers to advance the cause for music.
Federal
Intellectual property is such an important component of our nation’s core founding that one of the first provisions in the Constitution is to grant Congress the ability to secure the rights of creators. Today, artists rely on several federal laws to protect their ability to create and share their art with fans. Some of the laws that set out the rights and responsibilities that govern the music business include:
- The Copyright Act (1976)
- The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (1998)
- The Music Modernization Act (2018)
In addition to industry-shaping legislation like the above examples, RIAA advocates in Congress and before the Administration to strengthen creators’ rights by providing access to more effective enforcement tools, promoting creative expression and strong First Amendment rights, and protecting artists’ rights to their own voice, image, and likeness, among many other issues.
State
Not all public policy happens in Washington, DC. The states are a hotbed of legislative activity, and each features a dynamic music scene and diverse creative constituencies, with a role in passing laws that can help the music community to thrive. States frequently engage on a range of issues that can affect the music ecosystem, including consumer protection, contracts, rights of publicity, privacy, and torts. Some laws that we supported in the states over the past several years include:
- Tennessee’s ELVIS Act (2024)
- Truth In Music Advertising Act (2020)
- True Origin of Digital Good Act (2015)
International
RIAA also advocates for international priorities through outreach to U.S. and other governments to expand global economic opportunities and to protect Creators’ rights abroad. We protect and defend copyright in international organizations such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), regional and other organizations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, G7 and the G20.
Some relevant treaties and international agreements that shape international music policy include:
- US free trade agreements, including the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and other bilateral trade deals.
- The WIPO Berne Convention
- The WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT)
- The WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT)
- The WTO Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement