Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/48976
FOR MEMBERS CONTENT THEFT Talk to Your Kids About Digital Theft Y ou understand that your residuals pay your bills, and that the illegal downloading of copyrighted works cuts into your bottom line. You know that shady websites that stream TV and movies oſten support criminal enterprises. But do your kids know? These days, young people are more tech-savvy than ever, and the lines between legal and illegal content aren't always clear, since even illegal sites are getting more sophisticated, looking legitimate and accepting credit card payments or offering stolen content for free. Oſten, downloading content illegally isn't a malicious act — when downloading a movie, song or videogame is as easy as "click here," young people may not understand the harm they are causing. They may not understand that creative works have value, and that stealing them undermines the very entertainment they enjoy. But as families with actors know, the harm goes beyond that because it can — and has — led to a loss of jobs and income. A common justification for content theſt is that it really isn't hurting the small group of wealthy movie stars who grace the tabloids and talk shows. But what isn't said is the damage caused to the great numbers of middle-class workers in the film and TV industry. Those lost jobs mean the difference between making or missing the mortgage or car payment, not the loss of a summer home in the south of France. The scope of the problem is staggering: More than 500,000 movies are illegally distributed every day, and websites offering stolen films get some 146 million visits per day. But educating your children about content theſt can be the first step to help break that cycle, because young people learn from each other. Focus groups conducted at the behest of the New York Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment found that college students were receptive to the anti-theſt message when it came from peers and recent grads who are experiencing difficulty finding work, in part because of content theſt. There are other ways you can take action: Screen Actors Guild has partnered with Creative America, a coalition of players in the entertainment industry, including AFTRA, DGA, IATSE and major studios. Sign up as a supporter at CreativeAmerica.org to stay informed, talk to your friends and family, and write a letter to your elected representative. Content theſt affects us all, and it will take all of us to combat it. Join the fight today! Visit creativeamerica.org to sign up today. SAG Applauds Progress on International Treaty to Protect Performers S creen Actors Guild applauds a decision by the World Intellectual Property Organization to convene a diplomatic conference in June 2012 to conclude an international treaty on the protection of audiovisual performances. The organization announced the decision September 29, aſter approving a recommendation by WIPO's Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights to begin the final phase of work. Screen Actors Guild has been active throughout the process. Representing the International Federation of Actors (FIA), SAG Deputy National Executive Director and General Counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland spoke to the WIPO General Assembly of member states, expressing the organization's support. "With a new WIPO treaty to protect their works, audiovisual performers will finally be granted rights-holder status and achieve the level of recognition they so deserve," Crabtree- Ireland said. Progress on the treaty was suspended in 2000 aſter a deadlock on particular language on the transfer of rights by some member nations. In June, the committee craſted an acceptable alternative, with the help of delegations from member nations and officials from FIA, led by General Secretary Dominick Luquer and Screen Actors Guild Senior Adviser John McGuire. The delegation also included participants from AFTRA, as well as actors unions from Canada, Australia, Denmark, Spain and the United Kingdom. Track your foreign royalties at SAG.org/content/foreign-royalties STOPPING ONLINE THEFT: Leading First Amendment expert Floyd Abrams has sent a letter to Congress reaffirming that the Stop Online Piracy Act (HR 3261) introduced in October in no way imperils the First Amendment. 22 SCREEN ACTOR - Fall 2011 SAG.org