Stand United with the Creative Community

October 30, 2018

Dear Candidate,

As Americans across the country prepare to elect new congressional representatives, senators, and state governors in November, the Copyright Alliance is sharing an Open Letter to stress the importance of copyright protection to the creative community.

Signed by nearly 100K creators, audience members, fans, and consumers, our letter urges you to support the creative and copyright communities, as there is no “left” or “right” when it comes to respecting copyright. Rather, the creative community stands united in support of a copyright system that will continue to make the U.S. the global leader in the creative arts and the global paradigm for free expression.

Further, copyright-dependent industries and creators not only contribute significantly to our economy, they help shape our culture through new ideas, music, art, photos, and much more, and deserve to be supported by policymakers. They also deserve the opportunity to earn a living from their creations.

Finally, our letter discusses the complementary relationship between a strong copyright system, free expression, creativity, innovation, and technology. Specifically, the signers affirmed the following:

  • We embrace the internet as a powerful democratizing force for creative industries and the world at large.
  • We embrace a strong copyright system that rewards creativity and promotes a healthy creative economy.
  • We proudly assert that copyright promotes and protects free speech.
  • Copyright should allow creative communities to safeguard their rights against those who would use the internet to undermine creativity.
  • Creative communities must be part of the conversation and stand up for creativity.

Please click here for the list of signees, and our Open Letter is below.

Respectfully submitted,

Keith Kupferschmid

CEO, Copyright Alliance


Open Letter to 2018 U.S. Political Candidates

We are members of the creative community. While our political views are diverse, as creatives, there are core principles on which we can all agree. And we appreciate the opportunity to share our views with our country’s current and future leaders.

We embrace the internet as a powerful democratizing force for our world and for creative industries. We recognize its ability to inspire positive change and improve lives. In our creative industries, the internet has helped to advance creativity by removing barriers to entry for newcomers, fostering a dialogue with fans and audiences, and providing numerous additional ways to reach them. The internet holds great potential to expand creativity and free expression.

We embrace a strong copyright system that rewards creativity and promotes a healthy creative economy. The incredible cultural and economic value that the internet delivers to billions of users is based in very large part on the efforts of creative content makers whose livelihoods depend on being compensated for their efforts. Internet platforms are making massive profits from creative contributions to the internet’s growth. It is not too much to ask that content creators should be able to share in the value they provide.

We proudly assert that copyright promotes and protects free speech. Freedom of speech and freedom of expression go hand in hand with the freedom to create and to preserve the value and integrity of what one creates. The copyright clause of the Constitution is not in conflict with the First Amendment; indeed, the Supreme Court has called copyright the “engine of free expression” and copyright law has “built-in free speech safeguards.” To creative people, self-expression is deeply personal. It is at the heart of everything creatives do. We view any effort to diminish the rights of creatives in the name of “free speech” as cynical and dishonest.

Copyright should protect creatives from those who would use the internet to undermine creativity. The internet can be a great tool for creatives just as it can be a tool for science, education, health care, and many other disciplines. However, when misused, it can harm creativity and stifle freedom of expression.

Our current and future leaders recognize that a safe and secure internet benefits us all. And all parties recognize the importance of strong copyright protections in their technology policy platforms because protecting copyright and internet freedom are both critically important and complementary-they are not mutually exclusive. A truly free internet, like any truly free community, is one where people respect the rights of others and can engage in legitimate activities safely-and where those who do not are held accountable under law by their peers.

Creatives must be part of the conversation and stand up for creativity. Some organizations and advocates, who in many cases are funded by online platforms, repeatedly claim to be pro-creative and pro-audience to mask their own self-serving agenda. They denigrate or block effective efforts to preserve and promote creative content, including enforcement of existing laws and voluntary industry initiatives. The creative community is rightfully wary of any company or organization that claims to be “against piracy” when their actions do not match their words.

The is no “left” or “right” when it comes to respecting copyright. The creative community stands united in support of a copyright system that will continue to make the United States the global leader in the creative arts and the global paradigm for free expression.

Our copyright system is not perfect but, like democracy, it is better than the alternatives. It works. We urge our leaders to uphold America’s commitment to the rhts of creatives to determine when and how their works are shared in the global marketplace.

rhonda carlisle Leslie Feldman Esther MacRae Allison Poznanski
Simone Carlisle marian feldman Stacie MacRae allison ramsey
Thomas Carlisle Mark Feldman Bonnie MacRaith Allison Rehberg
Ingrid Carlo Nan Feldman domenick macri Allison Ripley
ShaRhae Carlock Peggy Feldman Nancy Macri Allison Rossi
Cc carlomagno Sharon Feldman Ryan MacTaggart Allison Sammarco
Adrian carlos Gary Feldmann john macwhinnie Allison Sandlin
Norma Carlos Melanie Feldstein Cecilia Macy Allison Schneider
Susan Carlough Tessa Feldvebel Lynn Marie Macy Allison Senk
Birgitte Carlsen Marcel Felea Sandra Macy Allison Shoebottom
Sherry Carlsen Linda Feletar Shawna macy Allison Smeltzer
Alyssa Carlson Xaymara Feliberti Roberta Maczkiewicz Allison Smith
Andra Carlson Cathleen Felice Sharon Madagan Allison Szczukowski
Andy Carlson ANN FELICETTI Paula T Madar allison taylor
Beth Carlson Eugene Feliciano Linus Madarin Allison Todd
Carol Carlson Ilia Feliciano Barb Maddalena Allison Vering
casandra carlson Jim Feliciano Jill Maddalone Allison Wells
Charlotte Carlson Karen Feliciano Anthony Maddaluno Allison Whalen
Christine Carlson Kim Feliciano Arthur Madden Allison Wilson
Debbie Carlson Malisa Feliciano Carla Madden Allison Wright
Elan Carlson Vincent Feliciano Colleen Madden Allison Zito
Emily Carlson Aleida Felipe Corinne Madden Allissa Johnson
Gabrielle Carlson Michael Felipe Dana Madden alliston wade
Gloria Carlson Bonnie Felix Derith Madden Allisun Sturges
Ivonne Carlson Jorciele Felix harry madden Ally Chahine
Jamie Carlson Nate Felix Heather Madden Ally Hubbs
Jessamyn Carlson Nicholas Felix Jon Madden Ally Sims
JoAnn Carlson Pat Felix Melanie Madden Ally Wilkinson
Jon Carlson Patrick Felix Michael Madden Allycia Radford
Joyce Carlson DARIANA FELIZ Tara Madden Allyn Stoller
Judith Carlson Elizabeth Feliz Wc Madden Allyson Bacon
Karen Carlson Franklin Feliz Kathy Madden-Bentle Allyson Bufano
Kelly Carlson David Felker Lisa Maddison allyson gutirrez-bundy
Laurie Carlson Joseph Fell Claire Maddlone Allyson Harper
Lindsey Carlson Helga and James Fellay Jane Maddock Allyson Kirkland
Lisa Carlson Paul Fellegy Alexis Maddock-Tarleton Allyson Lang
Marty Carlson Jan Fellenz Deborah Maddox allyson Martin
melanie carlson Jean Feller Destiny Maddox Allyson Smith
Patricia Carlson Joan Feller Kay Maddox Alma Anderson
Peggy Carlson Mercedie Feller Mary Maddox Alma Angelica Avila Chavez

The full list of signature is available here.