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MPAA Already Lobbying Obama

By Ryan Singel, Kevin Poulsen, Sarah Lai Stirland, Kim Zetter, and David Kravets

The Motion Picture Association of America has wasted no time when it comes to cozying up with Sen. Barack Obama.

Hours after Obama became the 44th president-elect, MPAA Chairman Dan Glickman applauded the Illinois senator's victory. In a statement, Glickman said Hollywood "stands ready to work constructively with the Obama administration and the new Congress to revitalize our economy and American's place in the world."

Translation: Let the lobbying begin.

Perhaps Glickman, a former congressman, wants to get an early foot in the door to help the new administration choose the nation's first copyright czar. Or Glickman might be cuddling up to the next president because Obama has said he wants(.pdf) to reform the nation's intellectual property laws "to promote civic discourse, innovation and investment while ensuring that intellectual property owners are fairly treated."

And none of this should come as a surprise. The MPAA ? the litigation armof Hollywood's studios ? is a certified lobbying organizationthat even paid a hackerto bankrupt TorrentSpy, a now defunct torrent tracker. The MPAA and its musical counterpart, the Recording Industry Association of America, began seeking the favorof the next president at the major party conventions two months ago.

With the election not even 24 hours old, we suspect Hollywood isn't the only lobbying front already snuggling up to the next president.

Full post as published by Threat Level on November 05, 2008 (boomark / email).