December 22, 2020
LOS ANGELES, December 22, 2020 – The Directors Guild of America made the following statement today upon Congress’s passage of a new coronavirus relief bill.
In addition to providing much-needed relief for workers through unemployment benefits and direct cash payments, the DGA applauds our allies in the House and Senate for recognizing the road to recovery will be a long one for our industry and including vital protections for which we have long advocated:
- The Protecting Lawful Streaming Act – By making the operation of a streaming service based on stolen content a felony, this provision closes the streaming loophole in copyright law and will curb online content theft and protect jobs, residuals, and health and pension benefits for film and television workers at a time when they’re most vulnerable;
- The five-year extension of Section 181 – The DGA played a pivotal role in the original enactment of Section 181 as part of the Jobs Act of 2004, and we will continue to support extensions of this federal incentive which has helped to turn the tide of runaway production and keep film and television production in the U.S.;
- The Save Our Stages Act – which will help to preserve the theatrical film experience through emergency relief for small and mid-size theaters and their employees;
- And the CASE Act – which provides a faster, less expensive pathway for independent creators to protect their intellectual property.
This critical legislation is an important step in the right direction, but much more is needed. We will continue to fight for ongoing relief and protection for our members, including enhanced unemployment insurance and COBRA subsidies, as well as job-creating support for our industry.