![\"AFTRA](\"http:\/\/artistsunderthedome.org\/malc\/wp-content\/uploads\/NATL_MultiUnionLogos-300x49.jpg\" "\\"NATL_MultiUnionLogos\\"")
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Los Angeles (May 12, 2011)<\/strong> \u2013 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) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) today released the following statement:<\/p>\n \u201cAs the Guilds and Unions that represent 300,000 creators, performers and craftspeople who create a multitude of diverse films, television programs and sound recordings that are enjoyed by consumers across the globe, we applaud Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Cornyn (R-TX) who were joined by Christopher Coons (D-DE) for their leadership in today introducing legislation (s. 978) to remove unwarranted obstacles to the prosecution of websites that willfully and\u00a0illegally\u00a0stream valuable copyrighted works for\u00a0commercial advantage or private financial gain.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile illegal downloading of our members\u2019 creative works remains the best known method of Internet theft,\u00a0illegal Internet streaming\u00a0has actually\u00a0become the preferred viewing and listening experience.\u00a0Unfortunately, the law has not kept pace with these new consumer habits.\u00a0While illegal downloading\u00a0and distribution is a felony,\u00a0the illegal, willful and commercial\u00a0streaming of films, TV programs and music\u00a0remains only a misdemeanor.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a lawyer and former prosecutor, Senator Klobuchar understands why current law effectively prevents law enforcement from going after those who\u00a0commercially traffic in illegal streams of copyrighted works.\u00a0Likewise, Senator Cornyn\u2019s\u00a0experience as Texas Attorney General and a district court judge\u00a0give him a unique perspective on the need to reform current law\u00a0to address the increasing threat of illegal streaming to creators\u2019 livelihoods. Senator Coons bring a valuable perspective as a new U.S. Senator who is committed to these issues.<\/p>\n \u201cThe sponsors of this bill\u00a0are not alone in recognizing the need to address this problem. In March, Victoria Espinel, the Administration\u2019s Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, issued a series of legislative recommendations\u00a0on behalf of the Obama Administration to enhance the protection of intellectual property; chief among them is a recommendation to enable felony prosecution\u00a0of illegal, willful and commercial streaming and by means of other new technologies. We commend the Administration for recognizing the critical\u00a0need for U.S. laws to take into account changes in the technologies that can be corrupted by Internet criminals.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are also well aware that\u00a0House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith has a longstanding interest in addressing this problem, and we look forward to working with him, along with Senators Klobuchar, Cornyn and Coons,\u00a0to\u00a0ensure that online looting does not decimate our members\u2019 ability to earn a living.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n