Support the "Protect IP" Act
A letter from Matthew D. Loeb, IATSE President:
May 31 , 2011
TO THE OFFICERS OF ALL IATSE LOCALS IN THE UNITED STATES
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
I'm writing to you today not just as IATSE President, but as a fellow craftsperson who, like you and our members, have dedicated my life to the art and business of entertainment. Theft of movies and TV - what has often been called piracy - is the biggest threat our community has ever faced. and 2.4 million of us who make a living in entertainment need to join together to fight back.
The impact on each one of us, all our members and our families is real, not just our brothers and sisters in film and television production.
All of us in this community pour our hearts into our work for the world to see and enjoy. Entertainment is one of America's most important economic engines. This trafficking in our stolen creative content must be stopped, so we are redoubling our efforts.
First, we have begun an unprecedented level of cooperation on content theft - not only with other entertainment unions and guilds- but also with all of the major studios and networks; communications very much like this one arc going out to the entire community soon. Also, you' ll be getting a lot more information about content theft and its impact on our jobs and creativity. This is bigger than the JATSE alone, and in the coming months, we'll all see just how much bigger our voice can be with your support.
The entertainment business is changing fast. Everyone is working to find new ways to bring content to people. But all of these efforts will fail unless stopping the trafficking in stolen TV and movies is made a priority in Washington and around the world.
On Thursday, May 12th the PROTECT IP Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate. This legislation will give U.S. law enforcement agencies much needed and far more effective tools to fight the growth of illegal international rogue websites and foreign profiteers who directly attack our members' livelihoods by knowingly trafficking in stolen content.
We have therefore launched an online campaign and ask for the participation of all IATSE members. This campaign will allow members to participate by sending their Senator a message seeking support for passage of this critical legislation. Members may gain access to the campaign by going to the following link on the IATSE's Web site:
http://www.act.iatse-intl.org/ea-campaignlclientcampaign.do?ea.cl ient.id= 1400&ea.campaign .id= 10618
Please watch for regular updates and information about what the lATSE is doing, and what you and your members can personally can do to join the fight.
In Solidarity,
Mathew D. Loeb
INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
TO THE OFFICERS OF ALL IATSE LOCALS IN THE UNITED STATES
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
I'm writing to you today not just as IATSE President, but as a fellow craftsperson who, like you and our members, have dedicated my life to the art and business of entertainment. Theft of movies and TV - what has often been called piracy - is the biggest threat our community has ever faced. and 2.4 million of us who make a living in entertainment need to join together to fight back.
The impact on each one of us, all our members and our families is real, not just our brothers and sisters in film and television production.
All of us in this community pour our hearts into our work for the world to see and enjoy. Entertainment is one of America's most important economic engines. This trafficking in our stolen creative content must be stopped, so we are redoubling our efforts.
First, we have begun an unprecedented level of cooperation on content theft - not only with other entertainment unions and guilds- but also with all of the major studios and networks; communications very much like this one arc going out to the entire community soon. Also, you' ll be getting a lot more information about content theft and its impact on our jobs and creativity. This is bigger than the JATSE alone, and in the coming months, we'll all see just how much bigger our voice can be with your support.
The entertainment business is changing fast. Everyone is working to find new ways to bring content to people. But all of these efforts will fail unless stopping the trafficking in stolen TV and movies is made a priority in Washington and around the world.
On Thursday, May 12th the PROTECT IP Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate. This legislation will give U.S. law enforcement agencies much needed and far more effective tools to fight the growth of illegal international rogue websites and foreign profiteers who directly attack our members' livelihoods by knowingly trafficking in stolen content.
We have therefore launched an online campaign and ask for the participation of all IATSE members. This campaign will allow members to participate by sending their Senator a message seeking support for passage of this critical legislation. Members may gain access to the campaign by going to the following link on the IATSE's Web site:
http://www.act.iatse-intl.org/ea-campaignlclientcampaign.do?ea.cl ient.id= 1400&ea.campaign .id= 10618
Please watch for regular updates and information about what the lATSE is doing, and what you and your members can personally can do to join the fight.
In Solidarity,
Mathew D. Loeb
INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
The IATSE International has joined forces with the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in support of the PROTECT IP Act.
This legislation is intended to give U.S law enforcement agencies much needed and far more effective tools to fight the growth of illegal international rogue websites and foreign profiteers who directly attack our members’ livelihoods by knowingly trafficking in stolen content.
Joint statement from the above organizations concerning this important "Intellectual Property" legislation.
(This statement , in PDF format, is also attached below.)
News and Press Releases related to this issue.
The above letter from President Loeb is also attached below, in PDF format.
Contact your Senators NOW...
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| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| President Loeb's letter (PDF) | 298.01 KB |
| Protect IP Act, Joint Statement (PDF) | 59.05 KB |