The DGA's National Board unanimously passed this resolution in support of France's "Creation and Internet" law which seeks to combat the growing problem of digital piracy through an education and warning system that would ultimately result in a temporary discontinuation of Internet service for those people who repeatedly upload or download content illegally.
Adopted April 25, 2009
Whereas, filmmaking remains our highest form of popular cultural expression and our work has the ability to transcend language and culture; and
So fundamental is the right to intellectual property and the protection of those who create it that it is the only "right" our Founding Fathers specifically enshrined in the United States Constitution; and
With the advent of the Internet, online piracy has made it possible to illegally download as well as upload an entire movie or television program with the click of a button; and
While the Internet with its ever increasing penetration and speed, brings great promise and potential, it also elevates the scale and scope of the battle we must fight, as geographic boundaries have fallen by the wayside and those who would illegally use content operate with impunity; and
Our members have a tremendous stake in this problem which puts their very livelihoods and creative work at risk now and into the future; and
We believe that the voices of future generations of filmmakers and creative artists may be stifled if piracy takes away their ability to earn a living; and
The struggle we face in the United States against those who believe that cultural works do not deserve to be protected and disrespect those who create it are the same struggles filmmakers face around the world; and
Filmmakers, music composers and other creative artists in France are in the forefront of this fight and are at this moment in the midst of a major fight for graduated response legislation that will make clear, through reasonable and non litigious means, that there are repercussions for using the Internet to illegally download; and
With urgent and united international action to address this problem we have the opportunity to influence a digital future that works for the benefit of both film artists and the consumer public; and
Like our colleagues in France we believe that one cannot truly revere and respect the idea of liberty without acknowledging that there is no greater liberty than the freedom to create.
Therefore, the National Board of the Directors Guild of America today expresses its solidarity with and support for our colleagues in France and their effort to pass the "Creation and Internet" law.
We are fully joined with you in this struggle to protect your artistic and economic interests, both now and into the future and pledge to work with you to this end.
