RIAA, I-SAFE Announce New Partnership To Teach Young Fans About Legal Music

The Recording Industry of America (RIAA) and i-SAFE Inc, the leader in Internet safety education, today announced a new partnership to help guide students to safely and legally access digital music. The announcement comes on the heels of the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in MGM v. Grokster a decision that established clear rules of the road and just two days before Internet Safety Family Night a day on which parents and children are challenged to plan activities in their communities to draw attention to Internet safety.

i-SAFE, a government funded non-profit Internet safety foundation, focuses on creating safe communities by conducting school assemblies; training teachers, law enforcement officers and students to deliver safety-oriented messages; and by establishing partnerships with student associations. Since September 2005, i-SAFE has conducted assemblies at more than 350 schools. Going forward, i-SAFE will work with the RIAA to develop a nationwide assembly experience on intellectual property for students in middle school and high school.

“Our partnership with the RIAA will allow us to educate more students about the proper use of intellectual property,” said i-SAFE President and CEO Teri Schroeder. “Through awareness we empower teens to make appropriate decisions on the Internet and make a positive change in both attitude and behavior.”

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with i-SAFE,” said Mitch Bainwol, chairman and CEO of the RIAA. “The organization is a recognized leader in this field. It will be a pleasure to learn from them and to help students learn about the music industry.”

“With students becoming facile with computers younger than ever, we know that it’s important to engage them early in constructive conversations,” added Bainwol. “When students think critically about these issues why we have intellectual property laws, how they should apply on the Internet, what constitutes ethical behavior online that’s a positive development for all. For the Internet to truly be safe and secure, there needs to be balance and rules of the road. That’s exactly what the Grokster decision established and what i-SAFE is uniquely positioned to raise with young audiences far and wide.”