Artists Form Copyright Alliance to Protect Their Work

by James Parks, Oct 13, 2009

Increasingly, artists, writers and other persons who produce creative works are finding their work is being misappropriated, reproduced and distributed without their knowledge, consent or benefit. Now these artists are taking action to ensure their copyrighted works are protected and that they can continue to earn a living with their talents and ideas.

Several unions, including the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), have joined with major communications and entertainment companies to form the  Copyright Alliance, a network of artists and creators working to protect their rights and the work they create.

Here’s AFTRA President Roberta Reardon:

I urge our members and supporters to join creators nationwide to ensure the creative work of American performers continues to receive protection from theft and exploitation. By upholding copyright protection, creators will have the ability to earn a living from their work and talent which further enrich American culture and the world.

The alliance is circulating a letter to President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, asking the administration to promote policies that support the rights of artists. Within just a few days, nearly 7,000 people have signed the letter. Artists are using their personal networks, blogs and Twitter feeds to encourage people to sign the letter.

You can sign the letter here. The alliance plans to deliver the letter to the administration later this fall.

Current signers include authors, photographers, songwriters, graphic designers, filmmakers, musicians, publishers, jewelry designers, Web designers, photojournalists, illustrators, video game developers, architects, cartoonists, composers, playwrights, voice actors, animators, sculptors, painters and videographers.

Creative works are a major part of our economy. A report by economist Stephen Siwek shows copyright industries in the United States in 2007 contributed $1.52 trillion to the nation’s gross domestic product, employed more than 11 million workers and represented more than 43 percent of the U.S. economy’s total real growth between 2006 and 2007.

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