August 12, 2010
Los Angeles, CA – Today, a broad coalition of entertainment industry guilds, unions and studios, including the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Directors Guild of America (DGA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada (IATSE), Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), combined forces to speak with one voice on the issue of Internet theft through a joint filing submitted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC):
The joint filing is in response to the FCC's request for comments on a framework for broadband services, and addresses the possibility that the FCC will choose to reclassify the Internet as a telecommunications service subject to regulation under Title II. Please find excerpts from the filing below:
"As creators of content, we realize that the theft of copyrighted works is the ultimate discouragement of content. The content protection measures that we have proposed only discourage the outright theft of copyrighted content, while protecting jobs and fostering creativity and American ingenuity. We believe that an open Internet offers tremendous promise for the proliferation of diverse audiovisual content, sound recordings, and myriad other forms of expression - it is those who break the law by exploiting these works without appropriately compensating their creators and financiers who discourage the creation of content."
"The Guilds, Unions, and MPAA do not believe that Title II regulation is either necessary or desirable to achieve the public policy goals the Commission has articulated for broadband and an open Internet. But whether the Commission reclassifies under Title II or finds a new basis for ancillary jurisdiction under Title I, the Guilds, Unions, and MPAA believe the Commission's ultimate goal remains a clear, enforceable set of rules defining an "open Internet" framework. Whether under the Title II rubric of "reasonable non-discrimination" or otherwise, the Commission must provide clear and unambiguous guidance so that BIAPs can design their networks to include innovative solutions to online theft without fear of liability."
Click here to download a .PDF of this filing in its entirety.
About AFTRA
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO, are the people who entertain and inform America. In 32 Locals across the country, AFTRA members work as actors, journalists, singers, dancers, announcers, hosts, comedians, disc jockeys, and other performers across the media industries including television, radio, cable, sound recordings, music videos, commercials, audiobooks, non-broadcast industrials, interactive games, the Internet and other digital media. The 70,000 professional performers, broadcasters, and recording artists of AFTRA are working together to protect and improve their jobs, lives, and communities in the 21st century. From new art forms to new technology, AFTRA members embrace change in their work and craft to enhance American culture and society. Visit AFTRA online at www.aftra.com.
About DGA
The Directors Guild of America was founded in 1936 to protect the economic and creative rights of directors. Over the years its membership has expanded to include the directorial team - Unit Production Managers, Assistant Directors, Associate Directors, Stage Managers and Production Associates. Today, through the collective voice of more than 14,000 members, the Guild seeks to protect the rights of directorial teams, to contend for their creative freedom and strengthen their ability to develop meaningful and lifelong careers in film, tape and digital media.
About SAG
Screen Actors Guild is the nation’s largest labor union representing working actors. Established in 1933, SAG has a rich history in the American labor movement, from standing up to studios to break long-term engagement contracts in the 1940s to fighting for artists’ rights amid the digital revolution sweeping the entertainment industry in the 21st century. With 20 branches nationwide, SAG represents over 125,000 actors who work in film and digital motion pictures and television programs, commercials, video games, industrials, Internet and all new media formats. The Guild exists to enhance actors’ working conditions, compensation and benefits and to be a powerful, unified voice on behalf of artists’ rights. SAG is a proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO. Headquartered in Los Angeles, you can visit SAG online at www.SAG.org.
About MPAA
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) serves as the voice and advocate of the American motion picture, home video and television industries from its offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Its members include: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Paramount Pictures Corporation; Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation; Universal City Studios LLLP; and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.