The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is tapping NBC Universal Executive VP and General Counsel Rick Cotton to lead its Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy, signaling the broadcast community’s growing concern about the piracy issue.

“Rick brings to the coalition extensive experience in IP policy and a profound commitment to this important fight,” said Paul Fox, external relations leader for global operations at Procter & Gamble, who is the coalition’s outgoing chairman. “He understands the need to bring all industries to the table in order to make real, tangible progress.”

The coalition is a group of more than 235 businesses and associations committed to increasing the understanding of the negative impact of counterfeiting and piracy on health, safety and the economy.

The chamber said that under Mr. Cotton, the coalition will continue its work to build a global coalition committed to the fight against counterfeiting and piracy, to raise awareness of this critical economic issue in the media and to partner with government leaders, brand-owners and industry groups around the world to combat this growing problem.

Mr. Cotton has been in his NBC Universal spot since 2004 and earlier spent four years as president and managing director of London-based CNBC Europe and 11 years as executive VP and general counsel of NBC.

(Editor: Gilbert)