Called FLIXPAC, the committee may now make direct contributions. Netflix forms PAC

In yet another move to boost its Washington profile, Netflix has formed a political action committee, new federal records indicate.

Called FLIXPAC, the committee may now make contributions donations directly to federal candidates — up to $5,000 per election.


And it provides Netflix with another political tool with which to aggressively press a pro-intellectual property, anti-video piracy agenda — an effort it began in earnest in 2010, when the company began heavily investing in federal lobbying efforts.

In 2009, for example, Netflix spent just $20,000 on federal lobbying, congressional records show.

But that figure grew to $130,000 in 2010 and $500,000 in 2011, as legislative debates over the Stop Online Piracy Act, Protect IP Act and Video Privacy Protection Act raged.

Last year, the company reported using the services of nearly two-dozen registered lobbyists, including in-house advocates and those from three lobbying firms — Franklin Square Group, Monument Policy Group and Kountoupes Consulting.

A company representative could not immediately be reached for comment.

New federal filings show FLIXPAC will be based in Los Gatos, Calif. Its treasurer is Christopher Libertelli.