Copyright Challenge For the New Administration
Holding the highest position in the country is not easy. But it is a great honor and steadfast commitment. Perhaps no one else can affect significant change or directly influence the momentum of history as the President of the United States.
Recently, Joe Biden was elected the 46th President. Just a few months into his presidency, US citizens, international entities, and lobby groups are already at his doorstep, calling for change.
One of those groups calls itself the Creative Coalition – an organization that works toward securing stronger protections for copyrighted materials.
If you are an artist, photographer, or another creative professional, you might be interested in what the Creative Coalition stands for and what they want from Biden’s administration.
What is The Creative Coalition?
The Creative Coalition is a self-proclaimed non-political, non-profit advocacy group consisting of people in the entertainment and creative arts industries. This Coalition primarily concerns itself with issues relevant to the American entertainment industry and, to some extent, general social issues.
At its core, The Creative Coalition advocates for the promotion of the arts and the preservation of free speech. The Creative Coalition also strongly supports quality public education and encourages others to embrace its importance.
What Does the Creative Coalition Want From President Biden?
In a letter signed by at least 350 people from the US entertainment industry, The Creative Coalition has essentially asked the President to support more robust copyright laws that protect and preserve the arts and the people who contribute their time and talent to creating original work.
Part of the purpose of their request for action, according to the Coalition, is that people are spending more time at home. This, they claim, has resulted in the resurgence and propagation of digital piracy.
The Coalition reports that digital piracy costs the economy billions in losses for creative professionals and others who lose revenue from such piracy. The Coalition encourages the administration to take decisive action against organized, criminal enterprises in particular. These groups that deliberately use and promote digital piracy for profit are sometimes tied to more serious illegal activities such as drug dealing and sex trafficking.
In their calls for action, the Coalition mentions three copyright laws that it wants Biden’s administration to bolster and support. The Protect Lawful Streaming Act and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
What is the Protect Lawful Streaming Act?
The Protect Lawful Streaming Act was signed by former President Donald Trump last December 2020. It was part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
In essence, the Protect Lawful Streaming Act seeks to protect the ownership and copyright of people who create “streams “or streaming content. The law prohibits streaming copyrighted material without authorization, consent, or permission of the copyright holder or owner.
What makes this law somewhat unique is that it contains criminal penalties that the court can impose on those who violate the Act.
It bears stressing that the Protect Lawful Streaming Act seeks to hold accountable primarily larger enterprises such as internet platforms and websites. It does not necessarily intend to impose criminal penalties on individuals who perform or use streaming content in other platforms such as Twitch, for instance.
What is the Digital Millennium Copyright Act?
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) is a copyright law that was implemented in 1998.
It is the result of treaties between the US and other members of the World Intellectual Property Organization.
The DCMA focuses on managing digital rights and holding parties responsible for removing content on the Internet when it violates copyright law.
Because the DCMA is already 20 years old, the Coalition wants President Biden to support much-needed revisions and bring it up to speed with new technologies and services.
The Creative Coalition Seeks Commitment to Protect Copyright
In pursuit of support for the arts and creative professionals, the Creative Coalition seeks to provide better protection for copyrighted works. It recognizes that the act of producing original, creative work is not only a difficult process but a unique and extraordinary method of expression. The people who do this work deserve the right to control how their work gets used and receive compensation.
With hundreds of members from various segments of the entertainment industry, The Creative Coalition can be a very influential and powerful advocacy group. Their letter to President Biden re-enforces their evident commitment to ensuring the protection and enforcement of creative professionals’ legal rights.
Contact Our Copyright Lawyers Today
At the Sanders Law Group, our copyright infringement lawyers are dedicated to helping creative professionals collect damages when someone violates copyright law. Our lawyers take pride in representing photographers, artists, videographers, and writers and ensuring that creative artists receive the compensation they deserve.
To learn more about how we can protect your rights, call us today at 516-233-1660 or (800) 979-3707 for a free copyright consultation.
