MUMBAI: According to a disclosure report, ?‹?“The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has spent more than $1.5 million in the first quarter to lobby on copyright theft and other issues.

RIAA is the foremost trade group for music recording companies and it urged the government on legislation to strengthen U.S. laws against counterfeiting and piracy which includes counterfeiting, piracy and online theft of music. Music piracy infiltrates the industry with annually a $12.5 billion loss in terms of lost jobs, wages, tax reeves, personal income tax, lost corporate income and production taxes.The RIAA also lobbied on the proposal to limit fees charged to Internet radio stations for music broadcasts, higher education bills and protection of federal data.

The RIAA members consists Warner Music Group Corp. and Sony BMG Music Entertainment which is a joint venture between them.