(04-01) 17:27 PST SACRAMENTO (AP) —
The state Assembly unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday condemning online piracy and the growing practice of free downloading associated with lost sales in the music and film business.
The resolution asks parents to teach children that “file-sharing” is the same as stealing. It also requests that businesses, government and colleges with high-speed Internet networks discourage downloading with new policies and technical obstacles.
“In the next 24 hours, millions of Internet users will illegally download copyrighted music, games, software, films and other images,” said Assemblywoman Rebecca Cohn, D-Saratoga.
The resolution’s author, Cohn cited music industry estimates that piracy costs it $4.3 billion a year. The film industry reports illegal downloading costs $3 billion in annual losses.
Media analysts say up to 61 million Americans use Internet services such as Kazaa.com to download music, films and software.
“This international ring of theft has now become larger than the industries it violates,” said Cohn, who chairs the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, and Internet Media.
The resolution now goes to the Senate for consideration.
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