This post was authored by FMC intern Danny Weiss. Full video after the jump.

On October 3 and 4, FMC brought together a wide array of voices and stakeholders in the music community for the 10th Future of Music Policy Summit at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Being in the nation’s capital gives us a birds-eye view of the debates that impact musicians. This year, the Summit included three keynote addresses on the future of music as it relates to policy: Register of US Copyrights Maria Pallante, outgoing FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps and Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA).

Congressman Goodlatte’s keynote touched on an extremely relevant topic: the motivations behind the (then-upcoming) “Stop Online Piracy Act,” or SOPA, which was introduced in the House in late October. Though we have issues with certain aspects of the bill, we are happy to give a platform to all perspectives on SOPA — including those of its legislative champions. Open discussion and debate is crucial to informed public policy, and musicians must be able to consider all of the information and weigh in.

Catch Goodlatte’s thoughts below or over on Vimeo.