"Global distribution of U.S. independent films and television programs requires economically stable and open markets throughout the world and a strong legal regime to protect and enforce rights arising under copyright and licensing laws. AFMA supports the U.S. use of bilateral and regional free trade agreements to achieve these important marketplace goals."
Jean Prewitt, President & CEO,
AFMA.
"The Directors Guild of America is pleased to join EIC and to support its goals. Because of today's worldwide marketplace for the works our members create, the economic viability of our member's livelihoods is dependent on free and open trading relationships, strong enforcement of international copyright laws, and a healthy production environment here in the United States."
Jay Roth, National Executive Director,
Directors Guild of America.
"Securing commitments to intellectual property protection in our trade agreements is vital to the continuing innovative efforts of the entertainment industries. We are sending a united message today that opening new markets to free trade and protecting products in those markets are part of the same inseparable goal, and we support and applaud the Administration's efforts to do both."
Doug Lowenstein, President,
Interactive Digital Software Association.
"We are talking about entertainment product, one of the largest exports created and produced by this country. The Entertainment Industry Coalition for Free Trade will work to protect these valuable assets, including motion pictures, television, music and video productions, through their distribution in the global marketplace. The IATSE strongly supports the goals set forth by this coalition and will work with the other organizations here today to achieve them. Funds garnered from free trade benefit IATSE members directly through contributions to our benefit funds, providing help to fund education opportunities for our members' families as well as job security and continued growth of our industry."
Thomas C. Short,
International President, IATSE.
"The distribution of American movies and TV programs in foreign markets is important to the health of our industry and our nation's economy. Therefore, it is vital that any trade agreements with our trading partners include commitments to protect our products from theft and to allow our products to move freely in the marketplace. A vibrant entertainment industry translates into tens of thousands of jobs for California and contributes billions of dollars to the state economic landscape."
Jack Valenti, President & CEO,
Motion Picture Association of America.
"No group is more concerned than producers regarding the threat posed by media theft to the creative and economic foundations of our industry. The producers of motion pictures, television programming and new media work extraordinarily hard to realize their creative visions and bring their products before an audience; the expectation that such hard work merits compensation is the fundamental tenet of free trade. Media theft – we hesitate to use the oft-romanticized term 'piracy' – if unchallenged, will ultimately cripple producers' desire and ability to provide the entertainment that not only enriches the lives of our citizens, but has proven the most durable and successful global export that our nation has to offer. It is incumbent on the Coalition and its members to work together to arrive at a policy that respects legitimate consumers of entertainment, but allows no quarter for the theft and illegal distribution of copyrighted product."
Vance Van Petten, Executive Director,
Producers Guild of America.
"We are here in Los Angeles because this new coalition continues to pick up steam and that's a powerful sign of the value that the creative community places on free trade. Ambassador Zoellick and his team are doing yeoman's work in advancing a free trade agenda throughout the world that include strong protections for intellectual property. Our job is help build support for that agenda and ensure that robust intellectual property and copyright protections are always front and center in trade negotiations."
Hilary Rosen, Chairman and CEO,
Recording Industry Association of America
"These agreements hold the key to future investment and growth in the pay television industry in Latin America, and it's especially reassuring to have USTR supporting this Coalition."
Sean Spencer, President
Television Association of Programmers - Latin America
"Music is one of the United States' most important cultural exports and it is important that there is a legal environment that enables our artists to flourish in a global marketplace. We applaud Ambassador Zoellick and his team for their hard work which will continue to allow us to successfully bring our music to the rest of the world."
Zach Horowitz, President & CEO
Universal Music Group. "
"The integrity of copyright protection for writers and artists of all kinds, and for those who invest in what artists create, is of vital importance. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners in the entertainment industry to decry the unauthorized exploitation of copyright-protected works. The foundation of a vibrant and strong entertainment industry is the protection of intellectual property and free and open trading between nations."
John McLean, Executive Director
Writers Guild of America, west.
