AFTRA supports Creative America
Creative America – United to Fight Content Theft
From:
AFTRA National President, Roberta Reardon
Dear AFTRA Member:
Earlier this year, I wrote to you about the formation of Creative America, an exciting new grassroots coalition that AFTRA helped create. Creative America amplifies our voices in the fight against one of the biggest threats we face as entertainment and media professionals: the digital theft of our creative content online.
Our community has already lost tens of thousands of jobs to the digital theft of our television programs, music, videogames and other creative content on the Internet. Content theft has a negative impact on future job opportunities, too. No one will continue to make new television shows, films, music and other creative works if the product can’t be protected and sold. Content theft also erodes funding of our retirement and health benefits, and robs the U.S. economy of billions in tax revenues and exports.
What’s more, thieves in the U.S. and abroad are making millions of dollars off your ingenuity, your work and your creativity.
Here’s how you can fight back:
1. Visit Creative America‘s newly designed online community at www.creativeamerica.org
There you’ll find profiles of other people just like us who care, and who are joining our fight against digital theft. You’ll also find helpful information about content theft, including a guide for parents and “safe sites” where you and your family can find legal content online.
2. Give law enforcement the tools they need to protect your career. Contact Congress, and ask them to the pass the PROTECT IP Act and stand up for U.S. jobs and creativity. Sign our petition by clicking here.
3. Visit the Creative America page on Facebook
Become a fan and follow the conversation and help spread the word: “like,” “comment” and “share” specific Creative America posts. This is an excellent, convenient and informative way to become part of the community of people standing up to protect our jobs and work.
4. Follow Creative America on Twitter (@creativeamerica). Be a part of the discussion and re-tweet and favorite the Creative America tweets you like and want to share.
Please take action today. These simple steps will help you stay in the fight, and will help all of us increase the audience for Creative America and its valuable voice – YOUR voice. Creative America is OUR campaign. Make it grow. Spread the word.
By making your voice heard, you are joining together with AFTRA members around the country – and other performers, directors, craft professionals, editors, cinematographers, talent agents, small businesses and union and studio employees – who care about stopping content theft. In fact, AFTRA National Executive Director Kim Roberts Hedgpeth serves on the Creative America Board of Directors.
The AFL-CIO has also endorsed the Creative America. AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka said: “Creators, performers and craftspeople work to give the rest of us a moment or two of entertainment. Their work deserves more than our applause. Strengthening intellectual property rights protects American workers, jobs, incomes and benefits. And intellectual property rights help more than just working families. Fighting digital theft and counterfeiting scammers protects U.S.consumers against poisonous fake pharmaceuticals, failure-prone auto parts, and other products that promise benefits and deliver harm.”
Thousands have signed up to join Creative America. If you haven’t already, join the fight today at www.creativeamerica.org.
In solidarity,
Roberta Reardon
AFTRA National President
AFL-CIO Vice President
Creative America is supported by an unprecedented coalition of major entertainment unions, guilds, studios and networks, including The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, CBS Corporation, the Directors Guild of America, IATSE International, NBC Universal,Screen Actors Guild, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Twentieth Century Fox, Viacom, the Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Entertainment.
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DID YOU KNOW?
* Websites trafficking in stolen content get nearly 150 million visits every day, more than 50 billion visits per year.
* Content theft isn’t just about movies. TV shows, videogames and music are illegally streamed and downloaded millions of times each week.
* Content theft threatens over 2 million jobs supported by the entertainment and media industries in all 50 states.
* The vast majority of workers in TV and film are middle-income professionals, earning $55K a year on average. These are the people hurt by content theft.
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