Tech Companies Continued Lobbying Climb in Q4, Say Disclosure Forms
The rise in lobbying spending from tech companies and related trade associations continued in Q4, according to federal lobbying disclosure forms filed this week. Google spent more on lobbying than any other tech or communications company in 2014, while Amazon, Apple and Facebook set company lobbying expenditure records (see 1501210035). Google’s $16.83 million in 2014 was also a company record. MPAA and RIAA spent less on lobbying in 2014 overall than in 2013. Telecom companies also reported Q4 spending (see 1501220051">1501220051).
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Google’s Q4 spending dipped to $3.78 million, compared to $3.98 million in Q4 2013. The company’s in-house lobbying efforts focused on an array of issues, including “data localization,” various trade agreements, and “limitations and exceptions” for the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Crossroads Strategies received $80,000 for lobbying on cybersecurity, patent, privacy and other issues for Google. Google paid the Prime Policy Group $70,000 and the Franklin Square Group (FSG) $60,000 for lobbying efforts on similar matters in Q4.
Facebook’s Q4 lobbying spending increased by more than $500,000, from $1.48 million in Q4 2013 to $1.99 million. Facebook lobbied on a variety of issues, including the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority transition and the related Domain Openness Through Continued Oversight Matters Act (HR-4342). Facebook paid Elmendorf Ryan $60,000 and Peck Madigan and Squire Patton $50,000 each for lobbying on a range of privacy, cybersecurity and tax and other issues.
Apple spent $1.19 million in Q4, up from $990,000 in Q4 2013. The company lobbied on “general” patent and copyright “reform” issues, the Marketplace Fairness Act (HR-684) and trade issues, including Trade Promotion Authority (see 1501150052). Apple paid Fierce Isakowitz $80,000 for lobbying the Senate on privacy and cybersecurity matters; the company also ended its contract with the firm. Apple paid Wilmer Cutler $70,000 for lobbying Congress on IP and “competition” issues; it paid FSG $80,000 for lobbying on patent, cybersecurity, spectrum and other issues.
Twitter increased Q4 spending to $80,000, from $50,000 during Q4 2013. The social media company lobbied on issues related to patent reform and patent litigation, Electronic Communications Privacy Act overhaul, issues related to NSA surveillance and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court oversight, net neutrality, the Email Privacy Act (HR-1582), commercial data security, Online Communications and Geolocation Protection Act (HR-983) and others.
Amazon spent $1,670,000 in Q4, compared to $960,000 in Q4 2013. It lobbied on legislation and policies on net neutrality, Internet governance, copyright reform, patent reform, the FTC study on patent assertion entities, the Copyright Office, data protection, data retention, data breach notification and data security. Yahoo spent $740,000 in Q4 2014 -- some $20,000 more than in Q4 2013 -- on big data issues, legislation related to mobile apps and privacy applications, privacy issues related to advertising and electronic commerce, patent quality and abuse, copyright and trademark matters, global Internet governance, FISA reform issues, computer fraud and abuse, online child protection, data breach, facial recognition and location privacy.
NAB’s Q4 spending jumped to $4.53 million, compared with $3.8 million in Q4 2013. It lobbied on numerous broadcast and music licensing issues, including the Songwriter Equity Act (HR-4079) and Respecting Senior Performers as Essential Cultural Treasures Act (HR-4772). NAB paid the Breaux Lott Leadership Group $90,000 for lobbying on H. Con. Res. 16, the Local Radio Freedom Act and the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (HR-4572). It paid the Glover Park Group $70,000 for lobbying on TV broadcasting issues. NAB overall 2014 lobbying leapt to $18.44 million, compared to $14.45 million in 2013.
MPAA spent $330,000 in Q4, down from $450,000 in Q4 2013. It lobbied on the STELA Reauthorization Act (HR-4572), ISP liability, copyright review, IP protections and other issues. MPAA paid Cove Strategies $40,000 and Covington & Burling $80,000 for lobbying on a variety of IP issues. It paid Capitol Tax Partners $70,000 for lobbying on tax issues. MPPA overall lobbying spending dipped to $1.34 million in 2014, compared to $2.16 million in 2013.
RIAA spent less in Q4 ($938,369) than in Q4 2013 ($1,089,957). RIAA’s total 2014 lobbying spending was just more than $4.13 million, a slight decrease from more than $4.59 million in 2013. RIAA’s Q4 lobbying efforts focused on a myriad of copyright and music licensing issues, including HR-4079 and HR-4772. It also lobbied on the NAB-backed Logical Radio Freedom Act (H. Con. Res. 16). RIAA paid the Alpine Group $50,000 for its lobbying efforts.
The Software and Information Industry Association spent about $330,000 in Q4 compared to $270,000 in Q4 2013. It lobbied on legislation on data privacy and security, specifically the Commerce Department’s multistakeholder process to develop privacy best practices, the FTC’s review of privacy and big data, cross-border data flows and international server localization requirements. SIIA also lobbied on the Commerce Department's IP task force copyright green paper, Congress’ review of copyright policy and the modernization of the Copyright Office. CCIA spent $40,000 in Q4, compared to $200,000 in Q4 2013. It lobbied on issues such as open Internet, copyright, the USA Freedom Act and surveillance reforms.
The National Music Publishers Association spent $185,000 in Q4, less than its $200,000 in Q4 2013. Its overall spending in 2014 dropped to $770,000, from $800,000 in 2013. NMPA lobbied on HR-4079, HR-4772, the “applicability” of the first sale doctrine and several other copyright and trade issues.
Pandora, which filed lobbying reports for the first time in Q3 2014, spent $220,000 in Q4, a $100,000 increase from Q3. It lobbied Congress and federal agencies on HR-4079, HR-4772 and the Department of Justice consent decree review. SiriusXM paid the Paul Laxalt Group $50,000 for lobbying on legislation on “royalty setting standards” and other satellite issues.
NetChoice decreased lobbying spending to $93,046, from $138,325 in Q4 2013. It focused on legislation such as the Internet Tax Freedom Act, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and issues such as the NTIA’s multi-stakeholder meetings on facial recognition privacy, and the FTC big data initiative. The Interactive Advertising Bureau spent $45,000 in Q4, the same as Q4 in 2013. IAB lobbied the FTC and FCC on legislation like the Location Privacy Act (S-2171), which would “prohibit companies from collecting or disclosing geolocation information from an electronic communications device without the user’s consent.”