Los Angeles, CA (June 23, 2004) – The Directors Guild of America issued the following statement of support regarding the introduction of the "Inducing Infringement of Copyrights Act of 2004."
"The DGA commends Senators Orrin Hatch and Patrick Leahy for introducing this important legislation which protects directors from the economic and creative consequences of digital piracy facilitated by peer-to-peer networks by prosecuting those that induce others to commit illegal acts of copyright infringement.
"As consumers around the world are entering the digital age of instant access, our members are well aware that the illegal downloading of movies, music, books and other media allows those copyrighted works to be obtained without the authorization of, or compensation to, directors and other creators.
"When a director's work is unlawfully distributed in an unprotected digital format – it is easily altered and exploited, so that it no longer resembles what the director intended, yet is distributed under his or her name. This important legislation ensures that the work of directors will be protected creatively and supported economically."
