Sony spent $730,000 lobbying US government in 1st quarter on digital piracy, music royalties
By APWednesday, June 16, 2010
Sony spent $730,000 lobbying US government in 1Q
WASHINGTON — Sony Corp.’s two American subsidiaries, Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Electronics Inc., together spent $730,000 in the first quarter to lobby the federal government on digital piracy and other issues, according to disclosure reports.
That’s down slightly from the $740,000 that Sony spent in the year-ago period, but more than the $570,000 it spent in the fourth quarter of 2009. Sony also lobbied the federal government on legislation that would pay performers and recording companies for radio airplay, according to the forms filed on April 20.
In the January-to-March period, Sony lobbied Congress, the Federal Communications Commission, the office of the president and other agencies, according to the reports filed with the House clerk’s office.
Joel Wiginton, former special assistant on legislative affairs to President Clinton and former counsel for Sens. Russell Feingold and Dick Durbin, is among those registered to lobby for Sony. Also registered is James Morgan, a former intern at the FCC and Justice Department.
