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As part of its service to members, EMA represents the public policy interests of the home video industry at the national, state, and local levels.
There are many legislative and regulatory proposals that could impact the home video industry in some way. EMA prioritizes issues for action based on the Association's mission and strategic objectives, the potential impact on our members, the ability of EMA to impact the debate, and the extent of consensus within our membership on a position.
The following position statements detail EMA's stance on priority legislative and legal issues:
EMA Board Resolution on Piracy
In July, 2004, The Board of Directors of the Video Software Dealers Association (EMA) unanimously approved a resolution that affirms the commitment of the home video industry's trade association to fighting video piracy through consumer education, litigation, legislation, technology, and lawful alternatives......>>More
Filing with U.S. Supreme Court on Peer-to-Peer File Swapping Networks
In a "friend of the court" brief filed with the United States Supreme Court on January 21, 2005, EMA argued that courts should not turn a "blind eye" to the rampant copyright infringement that occurs over peer-to-peer file swapping services. EMA's position supported its call for the Supreme Court to reverse the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in the MGM Studios v. Grokster case......>>More
EMA Position Statement on Anti-Camcording Statutes
Ten states have enacted new laws this year making camcording in movie theaters a crime, and similar bills are pending in other states and the U.S. Congress. EMA supports making camcording in the theaters a crime. Today's digital camcorders can create high-quality images that can be used as masters for illegal DVDs, which are sold in flea markets and on street corners for as little as $5, and can be uploaded to the Internet where they can be shared with millions of people around the globe.....>>More
EMA Position Statement on Video Segregation
A bill (A.B. 1793) has been introduced in the California Legislature to prohibit games rated "Mature" by the Entertainment Software Rating Board from being displayed on retail shelves that contain video games with ratings other than "Mature" and to mandate that "Mature"-rated games be placed on shelves at least five feet off the ground. EMA is working to defeat this measure. EMA opposes government restrictions on the display of videos and video games based solely on the industry ratings of those videos and video games.....>>More
EMA Position Statement on Video Rental Taxes
Some states and localities see the high volume of video rentals as an opportunity to raise revenues. Last year, seven bills that would impose special "video rental taxes" in addition to normal sales and use taxes were introduced in state legislatures around the country. These special taxes would punish video rentals for their popularity and reduce the inherent value of video rental......>>More
EMA Position Statement on Media Violence
In response to recent episodes of violence committed by young people, some lawmakers have proposed laws that would make it a crime rent or sell to a minor movies or video games that contain certain depictions of violence. Protection of the First Amendment rights of video retailers to offer, and of their customers to obtain, the entertainment of their choice (provided that it is not legally "obscene" or "obscene for minors") is a central aim of EMA's government affairs programs......>>More
EMA Position Statement on Secondary Effects Restrictions
The U.S. Supreme Court has permitted states and localities to address the alleged "negative secondary effects" of sexually oriented businesses, such as adult bookstores, cabarets, and movie theaters, through "time, manner, and place" restrictions. EMA strongly opposes efforts to regulate mainstream video stores that carry some adult product as sexually oriented businesses......>>More
EMA Position Statement on Digital Piracy
As a representative of retailers of copyrighted material, the Video Software Dealers Association (EMA) supports strong and effective laws against video piracy and aggressive enforcement of those laws. At the same time, EMA believes Congress should ensure that consumers continue to benefit from strong competition in the home video industry and can continue to use and enjoy video products as they lawfully do today......>>More
EMA Position Statement on Parental Empowerment
EMA and the nation's video stores share with parents the concern about the impact on children of depictions of violence. EMA understands that the home video industry has a role to play in ensuring that children do not gain access to movies and video games that their parents deem inappropriate for them. The best control is parental control, and there is no better place than in a home video store for parents to control the content of the movies and video games to which their children have access. Accordingly, for the past 16 years EMA and video retailers have proactively helped parents make well-informed choices regarding the movies and video games rented for their children......>>More
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