NEW YORK, NY – The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), which represents more than 120,000 creative workers, has signed on to letters to Congress affirming core copyright principles, demonstrating additional support for a strong copyright system.

Last month, IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb was one of more than 1,500 members of the creative community who signed on to letters jointly released by the Copyright Alliance and CreativeFuture. The IATSE is an International Union representing members employed in the stagecraft, motion picture and television production, and tradeshow industries throughout the United States, its Territories, and Canada.

The letters articulate the complementary relationship between a strong copyright system, free expression, creativity, innovation, and technology, and reads, in part:

• We embrace the internet as a powerful democratizing force for our world and for creative industries.
• 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 protect creatives from those who would use the internet to undermine creativity.
• Creatives must be part of the conversation and stand up for creativity.

The letters conclude by stating:

“There is no ‘left’ or ‘right’ when it comes to respecting copyright. The creative community stands united in support of a copyright system that has made and continues 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 Congress to resist attempts to erode the right of creatives to determine when and how they share their works in the global marketplace.”