Jason “Jay” Berman
Founding Partner
Berman Rosen Global Strategies, LLC
Berman is globally recognized as a leader in the expansion of the international markets for American recorded music and in trade agreements addressing copyright and anti-piracy issues. His work has included the passage of both the Copyright and the Enforcement Directives in the European Union, the ratification of the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the creation of worldwide anti-piracy enforcement operations.
In the U.S., Berman successfully led the fight for passage of the Audio Home Recording Act of 1995, the Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings Act of 1995, helped author the Special 301 provisions in U.S. trade law, and was instrumental in defending the recording industry from censorship attacks in both Congress and state legislatures.
First as President and Chief Executive Officer and then Chairman of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and then with the industry’s international association, International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), in London, Berman oversaw the fight to extend copyright protection in international markets for the first time. He also led the campaign against piracy in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Berman authored special provisions in U.S. trade policy which led to the incorporation of intellectual property protection.
In 1996, President Bill Clinton appointed Berman to serve on the Commission on United States-Pacific Trade and Investment Policy. In addition, Berman served as a member of the U.S. Trade Representative’s Service Policy Advisory Committee. His trade related activities culminated in 1997 when President Clinton appointed him as Special Counselor for Trade.