Oh! what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.

It's an old proverb and now it's coming back to bite the entertainment and software cartels squarely on the ass, not to put too fine a point on it.

For years they've been claiming they're being ruined, decimated and/or devastated, depending on whether you're talking to the MPAA, RIAA or BSA, the so-called trade organizations representing the corporate movie, music and software cartels.

However, "Hollywood, the music labels and other major players in the copyright industry shook their collective economic booty Tuesday, trumpeting a report about their increasing contributions and importance to U.S. gross domestic product," says Variety.

But, "Representatives of the core industries bristled at the suggestion that the rising numbers and overall glowing trends contradict the industries' oft-heard claims that piracy is severely damaging their revenues.," says the story, going on:

"Yes, we're doing well," said Doug Lowenstein, outgoing head of the Entertainment Software Assn. "But we can't ignore piracy. We ought to be growing more than we are."

"Too much product sold around the world is illegal product," said Recording Industry Assn. of America prexy-chief Mitch Bainwol. "Piracy threatens investment in new artists."

Motion Picture Assn. of America topper Dan Glickman argued that in many foreign countries, intellectual-property laws are under "serious challenge," making real the threat of even more piracy.

Glickman said the report, while not intended to generate or motivate any immediate legislation, is "a lobbying tool" that will let lawmakers know how important the copyright industries are to the U.S. economy. "It could be the foundation for some future legislative or enforcement action," he said.

Glickman also stars in another purely movie industry farce in which he says he's grappling with Hollywood's vexing tax problems.

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Also See:
Variety - Copyright biz grows in economic impact, January 30, 2007
movie industry farce - Does Dan's MPAA crown rest easy?, February 6, 2007