Jack Valenti - Definition and Overview

Jack Joseph Valenti (born September 5, 1921) was "special assistant" to Lyndon Johnson's White House. In 1966, he resigned and became the president of the Motion Picture Association of America. During his tenure there, he was generally regarded as one of the most influential pro-copyright lobbyists in the world.

In 2003, he found himself at the center of the so-called screener debate, as the MPAA barred studios and many independent producers from sending screener copies of their films to critics and voters in various awards shows. Under mounting industry pressure, conceded a small victory to pro-screener forces to allow screeners to be sent out to Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voting members only (and only on condition that voters sign an extensive contract agreeing to not distribute their copy), leading to further outcry from film critics, producers, non-voting Academy members (legendary agent Ed Limato resigned his Academy membership over the issue) and other awards.

In March 2004, Valenti, 82, announced his retirement. His position will be replaced by Dan Glickman.

Books by Jack Valenti

• Speak Up With Confidence (2002; ISBN 0786887508)
• Protect and Defend (1992; Doubleday; ISBN 0385417357)
• A Very Human President (1976; ISBN 0671808346)

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Jack Valenti

• Interview conducted in December 2002 by Derek Slater (http://www.hpronline.org/news/347207.html?mkey=628413)
• An interview conducted by a GNU/Linux user from MIT (http://www-tech.mit.edu/V124/N20/ValentiIntervie.20f.html)
• An MP3 recording (http://radio.eff.org/radio_shows/lessig_valenti.mp3) of a debate with Lawrence Lessig