Hollywood Funnels Millions to Campaigns.The entertainment industry, led by Seagram Co., almost doubled its donations to federal campaigns from the previous election cycle as it fights Internet piracy, a campaign-spending watchdog group said. The industry gave more than $15.5 million to political party campaign committees and candidates in the 1999-2000 presidential election cycle presidential election cycle The tendency of the stock market to move in four-year cycles with rising markets occurring during the period before presidential elections. , compared with $8.5 million at the same point in the 1995-1996 cycle, the Center for Responsive Politics "The Center for Responsive Politics is a non-partisan, non-profit research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics, and the effect of money on elections and public policy. said. Hollywood has been lobbying in Washington to seek ways to fight growing Internet piracy of movies and music, which is costing the industry millions of dollars in lost video sales. Piracy of movies is an "attack on the economic well being of the country," said Richard Taylor Richard Taylor is the name of:
Seagram, owner of Universal Studios, topped industry spending with almost $1.1 million, the center reported. Time Warner Inc., owner of CNN CNN or Cable News Network Subsidiary company of Turner Broadcasting Systems. It was created by Ted Turner in 1980 to present 24-hour live news broadcasts, using satellites to transmit reports from news bureaus around the world. and HBO Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) A form of oxygen therapy in which the patient breathes oxygen in a pressurized chamber. Mentioned in: Ozone Therapy , was No. 2 with $887,345 in donations, followed by the Walt Disney Co. at $693,327. Entertainment donors favored Democrats over Republicans by almost 2 to 1. Last week, Disney Chairman and Chief Executive Michael Eisner urged Congress to adopt a law requiring Internet companies to use technology preventing movies and other copyrighted products from illegally being duplicated over the Internet. The Recording Industry Association of America also has been embroiled em·broil tr.v. em·broiled, em·broil·ing, em·broils 1. To involve in argument, contention, or hostile actions: "Avoid . . . in litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. with Web sites Napster Inc. and MP3.com, which allow visitors to download music and make their own CDs from home. Seagram, which is reportedly on the verge On the Verge (or The Geography of Yearning) is a play written by Eric Overmyer. It makes extensive use of esoteric language and pop culture references from the late nineteenth century to 1955. of being acquired by French media conglomerate Vivendi, also owns numerous record labels, including MCA Records. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain, who withdrew from the Republican campaign for president, received the most from the entertainment industry with $349,193. Rep. Howard Berman, a California Republican and staunch supporter of Hollywood, ranked second at $147,748. Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, collected $147,400 and ranked third. The high-tech industry also boosted its spending in this election cycle to about $13.5 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Software company executives visited Capitol Hill two weeks ago urging stronger copyright laws to combat Internet piracy. The Center for Responsive Politics evaluated Federal Election Commission data on contributions from television, movie and music companies and individuals associated with those companies. |
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