What Motion Picture Association of America does

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPA; formerly MPAA) is the global trade association of the major film, television, and streaming industry, founded in 1922 as the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America and rebranded as the MPA in 2019. It is a private, member-funded organization owned by seven studios — Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery. The MPA operates in nearly 20 countries through wholly owned regional subsidiaries in Canada, EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Its products include the MPA Film Ratings System, which the Classification and Rating Administration (CARA) has administered since 1968 and remains highly trusted by American parents; the Trusted Partner Network (TPN, enhanced with the TPN+ platform since February 2023) for content-supply-chain security assessments; and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a coalition launched in 2017 that coordinates anti-piracy enforcement with law-enforcement agencies worldwide.

The MPA's business model is a member-dues trade association rather than a commercial product company; revenue, pricing, and budget are not publicly disclosed. Its "distribution" is institutional: it provides film ratings to theaters and the public at no charge, supplies research and policy content through its website, and channels member-studio content interests through government advocacy and trade negotiations. Supporting offerings include The Credits online magazine (since 2012), MPA Research and Economic Reports covering U.S. and international markets (including commissioned studies on India and Korea), and an annual MPA Awards Program.

Strategically, the organization functions as the industry's primary collective voice on production incentives, copyright enforcement (online piracy is estimated to cost the U.S. economy over $29 billion annually), foreign-market access through trade advocacy, and emergent policy areas such as AI copyright and youth-content moderation. Multi-jurisdictional enforcement actions — the UK High Court's omnibus blocking order, federal-court challenges to Canada's CRTC streaming-revenue rules, and a 2026 call on ByteDance regarding Seedance 2.0 AI infringement — illustrate an expanding mandate that goes beyond traditional theatrical advocacy to include streaming regulation, technology-policy engagement, and global content-security infrastructure.

Name

Motion Picture Association of America

Legal name

Motion Picture Association, Inc.

Website

https://motionpictures.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPA) is the global trade association representing the seven major film and streaming studios, administering the iconic MPA film rating system, the Trusted Partner Network for content security, and the ACE anti-piracy coalition across nearly 20 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Trade Association and Content Protection Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)

akta.pro primary industry

Security Testing & Compliance (Pen Testing, Studio/TPN/MPA Readiness) (MPAHAMAK)

Keywords

• Film industry advocacy
• Content protection services
• Film rating system
• Anti-piracy enforcement
• Trade association governance

Headquarters

HQ city

Universal City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Motion Picture Association is a member-funded trade association that advocates for the global film, television, and streaming industry. Its core offerings include the MPA Film Ratings System administered by CARA, content security assessments through the Trusted Partner Network (TPN), anti-piracy enforcement via the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), policy advocacy before governments and trade bodies, and economic research publications documenting industry impact in markets including the U.S., India, and Korea.

Product overview

The Motion Picture Association operates as an industry advocacy organization rather than a traditional product company. Its core offerings include the MPA Film Ratings System (the iconic age-based content rating system administered by CARA), the Trusted Partner Network (TPN) for content security assessments across the entertainment supply chain, and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) coalition for anti-piracy operations. Supporting offerings include The Credits online magazine featuring filmmaker interviews, MPA Research and Economic Reports documenting industry impact, and the MPA Awards Program recognizing excellence across creative, policy, and content protection communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Credits: The MPA's online magazine featuring in-depth interviews with below-the-line filmmakers, first looks at new movies and series, and industry coverage.
• Film Ratings
• Trusted Partner Network (TPN)
• Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE)

Products and services

• MPA Film Ratings System The MPA Film Ratings System, administered by the Classification and Rating Administration (CARA), provides age-based content ratings (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17) used by parents, moviegoers, and theaters to make informed viewing decisions. It has been trusted by American parents for over 50 years.
• Trusted Partner Network (TPN) The Trusted Partner Network is a leading global film and television content security initiative, fully owned by the MPA, that provides security assessments across the entertainment content supply chain including membership, application, and cloud content security assessments via the TPN+ platform.
• Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) A global coalition of major entertainment companies dedicated to protecting the dynamic legal market and reducing online piracy, working with law enforcement and industry partners worldwide to combat digital piracy.
• The Credits The MPA's online magazine featuring in-depth interviews with below-the-line filmmakers, first looks at new movies and series, and coverage of the creative process across roles such as stunt performers, editors, costume designers, and cinematographers.
• MPA Research and Economic Reports The MPA publishes economic reports on the film, television, and streaming industry's impact, including job creation, wages, and business statistics for the U.S. and international markets such as India and Korea, used by industry and government stakeholders for policy formulation.
• Where to Watch (Legal Streaming) The MPA's 'Where to Watch' initiative directs consumers to legal streaming options for movies and TV shows, supporting the legitimate content market against piracy.
• MPA Awards Program Annual awards recognizing leaders across creative, policy, and content protection communities, including the MPA Creator Award, Industry Champion Award, and Creative Protector Award categories.

Quantifiable outcome

• The US film/TV industry supports 2.01 million jobs and pays $202 billion in wages
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and notable.

• DisneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of seven MPA member studios. Disney joined the association as a founding member and continues as a key member representing major film and television content including Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and Disney+ streaming.
• NetflixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetflix joined the MPA in 2019 under Charles Rivkin's leadership, reflecting the association's increased focus on streaming services. Represents major streaming content and original productions.
• Paramount PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of seven MPA member studios. Paramount operates under the Paramount Global umbrella and represents theatrical film and television content.
• Prime Video & Amazon MGM StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined as the MPA's newest member in September 2024, added during Charles Rivkin's tenure as Chairman and CEO.
• Sony Pictures EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of seven MPA member studios. Represents Sony's theatrical film and television content including Spider-Man franchise.
• Universal PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of seven MPA member studios. Represents Universal's theatrical film and television content including Jurassic Park, Fast & Furious franchises.
• Warner Bros. DiscoverycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of seven MPA member studios. Represents Warner Bros.' theatrical film and television content including DC Universe, HBO Max streaming.
• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPA collaborates with HSI on international anti-piracy operations. HSI Korea office participates in MPA-coordinated enforcement meetings in Seoul alongside other international law enforcement agencies.
• Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal coalition launched in 2017 dedicated to protecting the dynamic legal market and reducing online piracy. ACE includes dozens of entertainment companies and works with law enforcement globally.
• National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPA partners with the IPR Center for anti-piracy public service announcements and enforcement coordination. The IPR Center director received the 2025 MPA Creative Protector Award.
• Trusted Partner Network (TPN)coreTechnology or IntegrationTPN is fully owned by the MPA and serves as the leading global film and television content security initiative, providing assessments across the entertainment supply chain.
• Korea Copyright Protection AgencymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with MPA at the international Copyright Enforcement Dialogue 2026 in Taipei to coordinate anti-piracy operations targeting Korean content distributed overseas.
• America250notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPA partnered with America250 to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary, highlighting the film, television, and streaming industry's cultural and economic impact in the United States.
• Oxford EconomicsnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned by MPA to produce the first economic footprint report on the Korean audiovisual industry, showing 300,000 jobs and $1.35 billion in exports.
• CinemaConnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPA Chairman delivers annual State of the Industry address at CinemaCon, the largest global gathering of theater owners.
• Apple TV+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApple TV+ joined the governing board of ACE (Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment) in 2020, strengthening the collective approach to disrupting piracy.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA): The RIAA is the music industry's direct analog to the MPA — a private trade association that represents major record labels, conducts anti-piracy enforcement, and advocates for copyright and IP policy in Washington and internationally. Closely comparable in structure, mission, and operational model.
• Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA): IFTA is the trade association for the independent film and television industry worldwide. Directly comparable as a peer trade body, and explicitly named alongside the MPA in coalition advocacy on California film tax credits.
• International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA): IIPA is a private coalition of trade associations representing the U.S. copyright industries, including MPA member studios. Directly comparable as a peer advocacy body working on international IP enforcement and trade policy — sometimes collaborating with MPA on foreign market access.
• Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE): ACE is wholly owned by the MPA but functions as an independent anti-piracy coalition with its own governing board. As a direct anti-piracy enforcement peer, it shares operational overlap with the MPA's content protection mission.
• Streaming Innovation Alliance: Streaming Innovation Alliance is the MPA's affiliated advocacy initiative for streaming industry policy. Functions as a closely related peer organization in the same ecosystem, addressing streaming-specific regulatory and trade issues.
• Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA): CDSA is now part of the Trusted Partner Network (TPN), but historically was a content security trade association serving motion picture, music, and software industries. Closely comparable as a peer in content security and anti-piracy standards.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Broadcasters (NAB): NAB is a larger, established trade association representing U.S. broadcasters. Overlaps with MPA on issues of content protection, IP, and regulation of distribution — though NAB's primary constituency (radio/TV stations) differs from MPA's studio focus.
• Entertainment Software Association (ESA): ESA is the trade association for the video game industry, with comparable advocacy, ratings (ESRB), and content-protection functions. Similar organizational structure and operating model to MPA, serving a parallel role in an adjacent creative industry.

Regional players

• European Audiovisual Observatory: European Audiovisual Observatory is a European public-sector body providing market intelligence on the film and audiovisual industry. Comparable as a regional peer publishing industry economic and policy data, though operating as a public entity rather than trade association.
• British Film Institute (BFI): BFI is the U.K.'s lead organization for film, television, and the moving image, with comparable advocacy, archive, and audience-development functions to MPA. Comparable as a regional peer operating in a single major market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/motionpictures
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thecredits-mpa
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheCredits.org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Motion Picture Association of America