On the positive side, factors contributing to falling piracy rates include legalization programs offered by software vendors and governments; public-private partnerships in education and enforcement, including BSA's anti-piracy initiatives; new software distribution models such as "cloud computing"; the influence of compacts such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the European Community; and better technical protection measures such as digital rights management.

While expressing support for many aspects of the Recording Industry Association of America's new agreement, Valenti said, ``we are not prepared to abandon the option of seeking technical protection measures via the Congress or appropriate regulatory agency, when necessary.

Adequate legal protection is needed to prevent acts intended to circumvent technical protection measures, and also to insure against the removal or alteration of any elements of the digital information systems or other such practices.